Rekindling old connections, finding new opportunities

Amanda Shores, Senior Manager for Thriving Earth Exchange Cohorts, recently represented Thriving Earth Exchange at GSA Connects, the Geological Society of America’s annual scientific meeting, as well as a Science and Technology Policy Fellowship alumni event of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 

Both events offered opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas and explore how science can inform public policy and help communities address real-world challenges. 

“We’re a grassroots organization in many ways, and we grow through word of mouth,” Shores notes. “Attending scientific meetings helps build relationships and raise awareness of the program.”

Building valuable connections

At GSA Connects, held October 11-14 in Denver, Colorado, Shores was invited to give a 15-minute presentation on community science, explaining the Thriving Earth Exchange approach and sharing lessons from her 15 years in the field. She also highlighted successful Thriving Earth projects in Miraflores, Peru and Charleston, South Carolina, and spoke about various opportunities to engage with AGU.

“Attending GSA Connects gave me a chance to connect with broader scientific audiences, show why Thriving Earth’s work matters and demonstrate how scientists can make a real impact with relatively little effort by working with us,” said Shores. “We help with the process of making connections and building trust with communities.”

In the exhibit hall, Shores met up with AGU’s Crystal Leid, who handles strategic communications, and Japan Geoscience Union President Takashi Oguchi. The Japan Geoscience Union and the AGU regularly co-host major international joint meetings. She also connected with the European Geosciences Union Executive Secretary Philippe Courtial, who is interested in integrating more community science approaches into their work.

Shores said the conference also sparked ideas for potential collaboration between GSA and AGU, which have many parallel programs. For example, she noted some opportunities to potentially work together on international initiatives.

A network that endures

Shores also attended the AAAS Fellowships Alumni Reunion 2026: The Long Game on October 15 in Washington, DC. This full-day alumni networking event featured various speakers, breakout sessions and lightning talks. 

Shores was an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow from 2020 to 2022, serving at the National Science Foundation in the Office of the Assistant Director for the Directorate for Geosciences. Her work included examining the Belmont Forum, an international group of research funders that supports transdisciplinary research co-produced with communities.

At the alumni event, Shores delivered a four-minute lightning talk on her fellowship experience and current role at Thriving Earth Exchange. She also attended breakout sessions on AI and future jobs and reconnected with fellowship advisor Maria Uhle and Brian Leung, Shores’ successor in the fellowship. 

“The fellowship allowed me to gain skills beyond pure science and take the work I was already doing into the science policy realm,” said Shores. “I learned how to work with government, bring stakeholders together and build momentum around an initiative, all of which I’ve been able to bring to my current job.”

Shores continues to draw on the relationships she built during her fellowship in her work at AGU, including through an ongoing collaboration with the Belmont Forum. The two organizations plan to host a daylong workshop at AGU’s annual meeting in December, focusing on core principles and effective execution of transdisciplinary societally engaged research.