by Kelly McCarthy, Project Manager, Thriving Earth Exchange
Thriving Earth Exchange welcomes new partners and collaborators around the globe to advance and improve the practice of community science
Early this year, Program Director Raj Pandya wrote that the next chapter for Thriving Earth Exchange and community science is “bigger than us.” He explained that “what’s next” is to work with others and share what we’ve learned and built to create a future where all communities participate in, guide, and benefit from science.
One way we are stepping into this phase built on collaboration and new perspectives is by educating – and learning from – leaders of the community science movement with each new cohort of Community Science Fellows. Another is through new collaborations and partnerships with organizations that value community voice and are eager to help advance the philosophy and practice of community science.
In November 2019 we introduced our collaboration with California’s Strategic Growth Council (SGC), a cabinet-level body chaired by the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. That work is in full swing, with 10 community projects set to launch on 24 April. Now, we’re pleased to introduce our newest partners in community science:
American Meteorological Society (AMS)
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is a global community committed to advancing weather, water, and climate science and service. Through the partnership with AMS, new Community Science Fellows will work with local leaders to design meaningful projects that leverage meteorology to produce a concrete impact, recruit AMS members to join the projects, and lead a team of scientists and community members through the work of each project. AMS and AGU share an interest in using science in service of society, and both have concluded that helping their members contribute their scientific and professional expertise to community-based projects can play a significant role in advancing that goal while providing a value to members.
Association of Science & Technology Centers (ASTC)
The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) supports science and technology centers and museums as they engage their communities. Thriving Earth Exchange is honored to partner with ASTC on its Community Science Initiative that will enable ASTC member facilities to fulfill their missions to connect science and society by partnering on solutions for local and global challenges. This initiative will build capacity to address community priorities, create a framework and documentation of experimental models for community science that can be funded, evaluated and replicated, and provide education about—and funding support for—approaches and models that welcome diverse community members.
Future Earth Australia – Belmont Forum
Future Earth Australia is a national peak initiative, hosted by the Australian Academy of Science, that enables researchers, governments, industry and NGOs to collaborate with each other and with international networks and programs across Australia and Oceania. In leading the hosting consortium for the Sustainability Research & Innovation 2020 congress taking place in Brisbane, Australia, Future Earth Australia will convene those at the cutting edge of sustainability research, practice, funding, communication and more. At the Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress in Brisbane, Australia, this summer, Future Earth Australia and Thriving Earth Exchange will bring together community leaders from Australia and the Oceania region to develop several Australia/Oceania community science projects.
Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)
The Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) is a global not-for-profit organization with a mission of connecting the world of applied geophysics. Thriving Earth Exchange and SEG are working closely to launch a community science initiative that will connect SEG members with communities to design and complete collaborative projects. Teams will be able to apply for additional funding for their work through SEG’s existing Geoscientists without Borders (GWB) Program.
