As a part of ASTC’s Community Science Initiative, we have been maintaining a library of relevant resources for science center and museum professionals interested in community science. Community science is a way of working on issues at the intersection of science and society, which centers community priorities, strengths, and leadership to co-create solutions. Through community science, community members collaborate, often with scientists and science engagement practitioners, to conduct scientific research and leverage technological innovation to advance community priorities and benefit from science and engineering knowledge and advancements. If your team is considering taking on a Community Science project for the first time, you may want to check out our Getting Started in Community Science Discussion Guide to start the conversation.
Our Community Science Resource Library contains a range of resources that can support museum professionals in their community science work, with brief descriptions tailored for the science center context, suggestions of how they can be used, and tags to help you efficiently find the right materials for you.
New Community Science Resources
Since we launched the Resource Library, we have added several new resources that will help you get started, get going, and keep going with Community Science:
Beginner Resources
If your museum or science center is just beginning to think and learn about community science, you might be interested in learning more about the terminology around community science and reading about some examples of previous successful community science projects.
Exploring the Roots: The Evolution of Civic and Community Science
Written by Shannon Dosemagen, Director of the Open Environmental Data Project, this article presents a brief history of the evolution of the current nomenclature surrounding scientific work in communities.
Science Together: Co-Creating Science Education with a Temporary Homeless Shelter
An article detailing the primary lessons learned by the Museum of Life and Science and Families Moving Forward in their partnership to co-create informal science education programming with families experiencing homelessness in Durham County, North Carolina.
The Open Innovation in Science research field: a collaborative conceptualization approach
This article compiles knowledge from scholars across various scientific disciplines and presents a novel framework for Open Innovation in Science (OIS).
Intermediate Resources
If your museum is actively planning a community science project, you may want to explore some of these more extensive resource hubs to find the specific resources that will best support your unique situation.
An organization that supports groups who want to build multiracial democracies in their local communities. They provide resources and technical assistance including training, coaching, and racial equity tools that can help develop place-based engagement for community-driven solutions.
AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DOSER)
This program encompasses several long-term projects to build community between religious leaders and scientists. On their website, you can learn about previous dialogues they’ve held, and view videos and reports that discuss the relationship between religion and science in the United States.
ASTC’s Community Science Dialogue & Deliberation Toolkit
Although not an item in the resource library, this toolkit provides a range of information and resources for museums that are interested in holding dialogues in their communities. For many museums, Dialogue & Deliberation is an excellent first approach to community science, because it provides an opportunity to learn more about your community’s priorities.
Advanced Resources
If your science center or museum is already engaged in a community science project, you may want to dig into some more in-depth resources.
CARE Resources for Advancing Indigenous Data Governance
The CARE Principles are a set of guiding principles that aim to promote Indigenous self-determination in the realm of data production, storage, dissemination, and use. CARE stands for Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics.
This rating tool from Public Agenda lets the public provide input about different kinds of meetings, processes, town halls, festivals, and online events, to help you actively iterate and improve on your processes for your next event.
What’s next?
Over the coming year, we will be regularly adding new resources to the Resource Library. In Spring 2024, we will focus on adding resources related to the Civic Engagement & Policymaking Approach to accompany the release of our new Civic Engagement & Policymaking Toolkit.
If you’d like to stay informed about the Community Science Initiative, you can sign up for our mailing list, and join our next Community Science Clinic to meet and discuss with like-minded professionals working on Community Science projects around the country.