Why the Citizen Science Association Changed its Name and Embraced Participatory Science
Welcome to Insights & Opportunities: A Hub for Informal STEM Education! Insights & Opportunities is a twice-monthly newsletter for educators, administrators, legislators, and advocates who recognize the importance of informal STEM learning.
This newsletter is brought to you by me, Sarah Dunifon, and my team at Improved Insights. I’m a long-time STEM educator, researcher, and equity advocate. Along with my team, I now work on cutting-edge informal STEM learning research and evaluation.
Each edition of this newsletter offers exciting insights, resources, and opportunities for informal STEM learning professionals, including funding, jobs, professional development, informal STEM learning research, evaluation tips and resources, and so much more! We hope you find it valuable. Now, let’s get started.
Why the Citizen Science Association Changed its Name and Embraced Participatory Science
The Citizen Science Association (CSA) no longer uses the term “citizen science” in its name. Let’s explore why that is and what it means for your work.
Why did they change the name to the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS)?
The name change was not spur of the moment. While the change didn’t take effect until 2024, CSA members voted to change the name in spring 2023, representing a more inclusive view of this kind of work.
Says AAPS, one of the most important changes in this shift is the recognition of the “many ways of doing this work – work that goes by many names,” as indicated by the use of the plural “sciences” in its name.
The organization also recognizes the politically charged interpretation of the word “citizen,” particularly in U.S.-contexts. As I noted in an earlier blog post, “The original term citizen science, coined in the 1990s, has come under criticism for its perceived exclusionary messages. Terms like “citizen” and even “science” can send subliminal messages about who is welcome in this type of work. For that reason, the rise of terms like community science and crowdsourced science attempt to be more inclusive and welcoming to everyone.”
While there are many who have critiques of the term, others have argued for the importance of the term “citizen science” as a part of the global movement. It’s clear many considerations and modes of thought have gone into this decision, and AAPS cites other motivations in its press release here.
To read the full article, check it out in our Insights.
60-Second Suggestions
Here are a few of my favorite things this month, usually pertaining to informal STEM education and evaluation, but occasionally some fun personal stuff, too.
On April 8th, the total solar eclipse will be visible in many major cities across our country. Check out these creative tips from NASA on eclipse safety, and make sure you are prepared to witness this amazing astronomical event! If you’re still looking for a place to celebrate the eclipse, this list of festivals and events from Sky & Telescope is a great place to start.
This Equity Project Spotlight article from the REVISE Center highlights an after-school club that utilizes storytelling to create after-school STEM programming that focuses on valuing and supporting African American youth to form positive STEM identities. This interview with team members Renee Lyons and Corliss Wilson Outley explores their unique approach to engagement and navigating the trust-building process in a rural, predominantly African American community.
Abbott Elementary, the Emmy-nominated series from Quinta Brunson, follows a mockumentary sitcom style exemplified by “The Office” for a look inside an elementary school in Philadelphia, PA. Educators will appreciate the depiction of the joy, chaos, and creativity that unfolds in a classroom. As an informal educator, I’m just waiting for a museum education spinoff! 👀
Opportunities
Check out these new opportunities for the informal STEM learning community.
Funding:
Gulf Research Program Grants, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, $75,000-$1 Million. Nonprofits, state, and local entities (excluding federal agencies) are invited to apply for grants of up to $1 million for programs that increase the scientific and environmental literacy and problem-solving skills of children and youth (K-8) in the Gulf of Mexico region. Applications should be submitted by April 10, 2024.
Kubota Hometown Proud 2024, Kubota, $10,000-$50,000. Nonprofits are invited to submit a community project for funding of up to $50,000. Examples of previously funded projects include ag education centers, all-access parks, and open space preservation projects, among others. Applications are open through April 12, 2024.
Proposals for Program Evaluations, Brady Education Foundation. Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit Research Project (RP) proposals and Existing Program Evaluation (EPE) proposals that have the potential to provide data that will inform how to address disparities in educational opportunities associated with race, ethnicity, and family income. Stage 1 applications are due April 1, 2024.
STEM Education and Workforce Development Funding, International Space Station National Laboratory, $120,000-$150,000. Research funding is available to U.S.-based institutions (academic, commercial, government, nonprofit) with a vested interest in workforce development and STEM education. Proposals must seek to create or expand education programs, projects, or public-private partnerships that leverage the space station or space-based research to engage post-secondary students, enhance K-12 learning, or provide professional development experiences for formal and informal educators. Concept summaries are due April 24, 2024, with full proposals due July 1, 2024.
William Swanston Charitable Fund, Community Foundation of Mahoning Valley. Nonprofit organizations in the Mahoning Valley, Ohio region are invited to apply for grants that support education efforts aimed at kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, 8th grade math proficiency, and high school graduation/college and career readiness. Submissions should demonstrate their ability to reduce the risk factors that can create disparities, and to create opportunities for children to thrive. Submissions are due April 15, 2024.
Jobs and Fellowships:
Education Coordinator, Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) (Suttons Bay, MI), $50,000. The Education Coordinator will lead, develop, and oversee the education programs of ISEA, including curriculum development and standard alignment, instructional observation, program evaluation, and direct teaching. Applications are due March 24, 2024.
Environmental Educator, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (Brooklyn, NY), $52,000. The Environmental Educator will teach environmental education classes at outdoor and indoor sites throughout Brooklyn Bridge Park, contribute to ongoing creation, evaluation and refinement of environmental education curriculum and activities, and facilitate drop-in public education programs, among other responsibilities. Applications are due March 25, 2024.
Program Manager, Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance (Tulsa, OK), $50,000. The Program Manager will support PK-20 educators through professional development and high quality instructional materials while expanding the STEM ecosystem capacity through partnerships. Applications are due March 25, 2024.
REDEFINE Visitor Studies Part-time Temporary Project Coordinator, Visitor Studies Association (Albany, NY), $30/hour. The REDEFINE project coordinator is a temporary, part-time contract position with an estimated 15 hours per month from March 2024 to December 2025. The project coordinator will help coordinate the administrative and operational aspects of this 2-year IMLS grant, in collaboration with the VSA Executive Committee and project leadership team. Applications are due March 25, 2024.
Summer Camp Education Program Aide, San Diego Zoo (San Diego, CA), $17/hour. The seasonal Education Aide will provide support for San Diego Zoo summer camp programs. They will collaborate with the camp team to prepare and provide engaging, hands-on experiences for campers entering grades K-8 from June 10 - August 12, 2024.
Professional Development:
Call for Proposals, NAAEE Conference 2024: Building Bridges (Pittsburgh, PA). NAAEE is seeking proposals for presentations for their 53rd annual conference. Drawing inspiration from the conference location, Pittsburgh, PA, the conference theme is Building Bridges. "We seek to spotlight environmental educators as natural bridge builders. Focused on bridging gaps across borders, disciplines, and ideas, our event aims to foster mutual understanding and explore how to discover common ground." Proposals should be submitted by April 26, 2024.
IRB Basics: An Introduction to IRBs in Informal STEM Education, REVISE Center (Virtual). The REVISE Center will host an informational webinar on Institutional Review Boards (IRB) and their role in Informal STEM education work. "Whether you are new to research or seeking a comprehensive IRB refresher, [this webinar] is designed to enhance your understanding of ethical human subject research in ISE initiatives." The webinar will take place April 29, 2024 at 2:00 PM EDT.
Live Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Northern, Monarch Joint Ventures (Virtual). "Be a community scientist with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)!"" This virtual one-day training on how to collect data that contributes to knowledge about the monarch population will also touch on monarch biology, monitoring procedures, and will include a participant Q&A with monarch biologists. The virtual course will take place April 18, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT."
Science Talk '24, Association of Science Communicators (Portland, OR & Virtual). “The Association of Science Communicators (ASC, formerly Science Talk) is a professional organization growing to meet the needs of the multifaceted science communication community so we can better address the challenges facing our society.” The Association of Science Communicators' annual conference will occur April 11-12, 2024 in Portland, OR, and virtually April 3-12, 2024.
Women in Science Now: How to Use Science to Overcome the Remaining Hurdles to Equity, Association for Women in Science (AWIS) (Virtual). AWIS will host Lisa M.P. Munoz to share insights from her book, Women in Science Now: Stories and Strategies for Achieving Equity, during a webinar that will "explore the obstacles facing women in science at every step along their career paths." The webinar will take place March 19, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT.
Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Insights and Opportunities. While you’re waiting for the next edition, tell your friends! We appreciate you sending along a blog post you enjoyed, a job opportunity you think a friend should apply for, and resources you found valuable. Sharing this newsletter is the best way to support this work. Until next time - thanks!
