Participatory Sciences Guidance and Tools to Support USGS’s Engagement with Decision Makers and the Public
Collaboration among scientists, managers, and members of the public is critical for developing effective science products that respond to society’s most pressing challenges. To continue these collaborative efforts, USGS recognizes that participatory sciences can be a powerful tool in engaging diverse groups in the process of collecting and interpreting scientific information, knowledge, and products. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will develop a guidebook for USGS scientists, supervisors, and leadership by utilizing collaboration across the USGS, as well as with federal, state, and local partners. This guidebook will provide opportunities for greater alignment of participatory science priorities, as well as create a framework to guide science planning and scientists’ efforts in a way that is responsive to the needs and priorities of future participatory sciences.
Project Summary
Across USGS, scientists, managers, and members of the public are joining forces to develop critical 21st -century science products to respond to society’s greatest challenges. In doing so, USGS is increasingly recognizing the need to engage with the decision makers, individuals, and communities its science aims to serve through the use of participatory sciences. Broadly, participatory sciences actively engage the public in the process of collecting, generating, analyzing, and interpreting scientific information, knowledge, and products. Some efforts may be driven by the scientists at the USGS, while others may be driven by partners or communities. However, the increase in engagement of the public by USGS scientists is challenged by the lack of common language, and successful participatory science efforts remain disconnected across project teams, mission areas, and regions.
To provide an opportunity for greater alignment, this project will develop a guidebook for USGS scientists, supervisors, and leadership by collaborating with staff from across USGS, as well as federal, state, and local partners. This will allow a greater understanding of the diverse types of participatory science that USGS scientists, programs, and regions are undertaking to work with and for the public, as well as the value they provide. Additionally, the collaboration will lead to the development of best practices for working with the public across USGS, grounded in past experiences, relevant literature, and input of subject matter experts. Finally, this project will create a framework for future projects to guide science planning and individual scientists’ efforts that is responsive to the needs and priorities of the specific participatory context.
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 6846e747d4be023e73e6c282)
Nicole M Herman-Mercer
Research Social Scientist, Southwest CASC
Amanda E Cravens, Ph.D.
Research Social Scientist
Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, Ph.D.
Assistant Regional Administrator, North Central CASC
Todd Chaudhry, Ph.D.
Science Advisor
Collaboration among scientists, managers, and members of the public is critical for developing effective science products that respond to society’s most pressing challenges. To continue these collaborative efforts, USGS recognizes that participatory sciences can be a powerful tool in engaging diverse groups in the process of collecting and interpreting scientific information, knowledge, and products. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will develop a guidebook for USGS scientists, supervisors, and leadership by utilizing collaboration across the USGS, as well as with federal, state, and local partners. This guidebook will provide opportunities for greater alignment of participatory science priorities, as well as create a framework to guide science planning and scientists’ efforts in a way that is responsive to the needs and priorities of future participatory sciences.
Project Summary
Across USGS, scientists, managers, and members of the public are joining forces to develop critical 21st -century science products to respond to society’s greatest challenges. In doing so, USGS is increasingly recognizing the need to engage with the decision makers, individuals, and communities its science aims to serve through the use of participatory sciences. Broadly, participatory sciences actively engage the public in the process of collecting, generating, analyzing, and interpreting scientific information, knowledge, and products. Some efforts may be driven by the scientists at the USGS, while others may be driven by partners or communities. However, the increase in engagement of the public by USGS scientists is challenged by the lack of common language, and successful participatory science efforts remain disconnected across project teams, mission areas, and regions.
To provide an opportunity for greater alignment, this project will develop a guidebook for USGS scientists, supervisors, and leadership by collaborating with staff from across USGS, as well as federal, state, and local partners. This will allow a greater understanding of the diverse types of participatory science that USGS scientists, programs, and regions are undertaking to work with and for the public, as well as the value they provide. Additionally, the collaboration will lead to the development of best practices for working with the public across USGS, grounded in past experiences, relevant literature, and input of subject matter experts. Finally, this project will create a framework for future projects to guide science planning and individual scientists’ efforts that is responsive to the needs and priorities of the specific participatory context.
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 6846e747d4be023e73e6c282)