Participatory science is the involvement of the public in science. It uses the collective strength and knowledge of the public to collect, analyze, and use data to answer environmental and public health questions. Projects answer wide-ranging questions, can engage the public in any or all steps of the scientific process, and operate using varying models ranging from community-led to institutionally driven. These efforts facilitate an increase in place-based connections, environmental stewardship, and human health and environmental protection.

Have you wondered about the steps needed to build a successful participatory science project? Are you curious to learn how to engage and collaborate with your local community to do science? This webinar will walk through common steps and processes to design and implement a participatory science project as well as water, air, and soil case studies from across the country. The presenters will walk through their planning process steps, discuss outcomes, and highlight lessons learned.

This webinar will:

1) Introduce the building blocks to developing a participatory science project.

2) Share the Oklahoma Conservation Commission – Blue Thumb story.

3) Present the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – Community Air Action Planning program.

4) Highlight collaboration approaches in Region 8 to test soil health using the soilSHOPs model.