The American Meteorological Society (AMS), Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), and American Geophysical Union (AGU)'s Thriving Earth Exchange are partnering to launch a series of community science projects that will leverage and enhance the connectivity of our networks for local impact with communities. These projects will use science to advance community priorities and contribute to a growing movement toward engaged, community-driven science. 

Who’s Involved

Call for Applications

AMS, ASTC, and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange invite their membership to apply for a new cohort of volunteer Community Science Fellows and to share this call with their communities. Through this partnership, Community Science Fellows from ASTC, AMS, and AGU membership will collaborate with local leaders to design meaningful projects that leverage science to produce a concrete impact; recruit scientists with relevant expertise to join the projects; and lead a team of scientists and community members through launching a project, advancing community priorities, and sharing outcomes.

• Community Science Fellows with the Thriving Earth Exchange have managed projects on a wide variety of topics from reducing urban flooding, monitoring air pollution, to inventorying green house gasses. For more information and how to apply, please read through the materials below.
• Community Leaders contribute a wide range of experience, ideas, and priorities to projects. For more information on how to apply with a community project, read through the call for community applications.
• If you are interested in being part of Thriving Earth Exchange's general community scientist network to help support Community Science Fellows and Community Leaders, then you can submit your information here. 

Note: Our definition of community is wide and may include municipal governments, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, Indigenous groups, grassroots collectives, etc.

All applications are due on November 6 by 11:59 pm EDT. Training for Community Science Fellows will take place on January 28-29, 2021. Contact Tiernan Doyle at tdoyle@ametsoc.org with any further questions. 

 

Call for Community Science Fellows

Community Science Fellows are committed volunteers who are eager to facilitate and lead collaborative, co-developed community science projects that produce on-the-ground impact in local communities. They receive training in the Thriving Earth Exchange community science process, mentorship from AMS, ASTC and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange staff, connectivity to a growing network of Community Science Fellows, and the opportunity to serve as leaders in the community science movement. The skills that Community Science Fellows hone prepare them to manage diverse teams, work across disciplinary boundaries, and connect science to action. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply now for a new cohort of projects launching in Winter 2020. 

Selected Community Science Fellows will be required to participate in a 2-day training workshop on January 28-29. There is no cost to Community Science Fellows to participate; travel and lodging will be provided, with expenses reimbursable.  Please note: this training will be online if COVID-19 restrictions do not allow for an in-person meeting

Continue reading for more information. Ready to apply? Click here for the application.

What to Expect

This is a volunteer service and professional development opportunity. Selected Community Science Fellows will be trained by AMS, ASTC and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange staff, assigned to a staff mentor, and matched to a community interested in working with a scientist to advance a local priority. Projects will cover a range of themes related to climate change, meteorology, hydrology, resilience, sustainability, and health. 

Projects launched through this cohort will not be provided with funding. The Community Science Fellows and scientists will help to design projects that can have an impact on the community priority with creativity, in-kind support, and resources at hand. Examples of past projects include Assessing Flood Risks for Community-Led Action in Gulfport, Mississippi, Updating a Climate Vulnerability Assessment in Santa Cruz, California, and Monitoring Plastic Pollution in Staunton, Virginia, among many others! 

Projects will begin and end in 2021, but timelines are subject to change due to COVID-19. Once launched, projects will conclude within 6-12 months.

Community Science Fellows will participate as a member of a cohort of approximately eight Community Science Fellows, with opportunities to engage with past and present Community Science Fellows from several cohorts. 

We invite AMS, ASTC, and AGU members to share this call for applications with their communities* and apply for participation in this cohort together with a local leader. (To do so, apply separately as a Community Science Fellow and as a community, and reference one another where asked in the applications.) If you do not have a pre-existing relationship with local community leaders, this is a great opportunity to build one. Alternatively, you may apply without a community partner and we will try to match you with a local community. (Guidance and recommendations for reaching out available here.)

What to Provide

Preferred qualities for Community Science Fellows supporting 2020 AMS/ASTC/AGU Thriving Earth Exchange cohort communities include: 

• Enthusiasm for engaging with AMS, ASTC, and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange, including a willingness and ability to be reflective about the role and the program; and enthusiasm for the Community Science Fellow role, including a commitment to and experience in (or strong intent to pursue) community science. Examples of this might be:
  • experience working with diverse stakeholders and projects (this may include low-income/disadvantaged communities and those that have not had an opportunity to engage with science)
  • a passion for elevating community-led action and local priorities
  • a strong desire to support community-led engagement with a variety of audiences, including policy makers and the media
  • evidence of consistent and long-term volunteer work or community engagement
• Humility, an ability to listen, and strong communication skills. Examples of this might be:
  • aptitude for science communication
  • desire to speak out about the value of connecting community priorities with science and the importance of science in local communities, and to help others do the same
  • experience or willingness to engage diverse individuals, organizations, and communities in communication and ongoing conversations
  • leadership experience in multidisciplinary/culturally sensitive environments
• Qualifications:
  • undergraduate degree or a minimum of 3 years experience working in a science-related or informal STEM-learning field;
  • project management and facilitation skills
  • at any career stage
  • a formal science background is not required but some interest/familiarity is necessary
• Ability to attend the Community Science Fellow training workshop in person on January 28-29 in Washington, D.C. (travel and lodging provided). Note: this training will be online if COVID-19 restrictions do not allow for an in-person meeting

While it is often beneficial for Community Science Fellows to be located near the communities they support, it is not required. Currently Community Science Fellows must reside within the United States or a U.S. Territory. 

Note: Prior to engaging in this cohort, all Community Science Fellows are asked to read and acknowledge the following documents which describe the principles and ethics behind these collaborations. Should you have any questions regarding these documents or their contents, please don’t hesitate to contact Tiernan Doyle at tdoyle@ametsoc.org. 

• Thriving Earth Exchange Statement on Integrity in Community Science
• Managing and Understanding Risk in Thriving Earth Exchange
• AMS Code of Conduct
• ASTC Code of Conduct

Application Deadline: Friday, November 6 at 11:59pm Eastern 

---

Call for Communities

Communities and community groups of all kinds* are invited to partner with AMS, ASTC, and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange to design and launch a project that unites community and science to advance community priorities. We are currently accepting applications from community leaders in the U.S. to join this cross-society community science initiative that will create science-community partnerships in eight communities across the United States. Individuals representing communities that have been historically marginalized and/or underserved are especially encouraged to apply. Communities selected for this cohort will work collaboratively with a Community Science Fellow and AMS/ASTC/AGU scientists. 

We are accepting community applications for projects that inform and tackle local priorities relating to water, climate, weather, health, resilience, and sustainability. Examples of past projects include Assessing Flood Risks for Community-Led Action in Gulfport, Mississippi, Updating a Climate Vulnerability Assessment in Santa Cruz, California, and Monitoring Plastic Pollution in Staunton, Virginia, among many others! If your project idea doesn’t fit one of the categories above, don’t let that stop you from applying!

• This program is free of charge for communities and projects do not come with funding. We design projects that can have an impact on the community priority with creativity, in-kind support, and resources at hand.
• Projects are supported by specially trained staff and Community Science Fellows, and typically conclude within 6-12 months.

Getting started is simple, and the first step is to apply online. Share your priority with us, and we will follow up with you to have a conversation. Ideas do not need to be fully developed to apply. 

What Else Should I Know?

• Communities who start projects receive:
  • project management and coordination from a dedicated Community Science Fellow trained by AMS, ASTC, and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange
  • partnership with a volunteer scientist vetted by the Community Science Fellow
  • access and connection to the growing network of communities, scientists, volunteers, and organizations dedicated to the advancement of community science.
• We will review fellow and community applications on a rolling basis. Projects are expected to begin in January 2021, but timelines are subject to change due to COVID-19. Once launched, projects typically conclude within 6-12 months.

Note: Prior to engaging in this cohort, all communities are asked to read and acknowledge the following documents which describe the principles and ethics behind these collaborations. Should you have any questions regarding these documents or their contents, please don’t hesitate to contact Tiernan Doyle at tdoyle@ametsoc.org.

• Thriving Earth Exchange Statement on Integrity in Community Science
• Managing and Understanding Risk in Thriving Earth Exchange
• AMS Code of Conduct
• ASTC Code of Conduct

*Our definition of community is wide and may include municipal governments, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, Indigenous groups, grassroots collectives, etc.

Deadline: Friday, November 6 at 11:59pm Eastern

Community Scientists

In addition to the new AMS-ASTC-AGU cohort, Thriving Earth Exchange projects are always looking for new scientists to support Community Leaders and Science Fellows. If you are interested in lending your skills to community projects as a scientist rather than a Community Science Fellow, then consider signing up for the Community Scientist Network.