The bright lights that shine across this community are always the people who bring passion and commitment to the best in participatory sciences. See below for 2025 highlights, and be sure to follow the ⋙ symbols for more information on each. Join AAPS in celebrating:
Career leaders at all stages:
- Dr. Dixon Butler’s career-long vision, mentorship, and wise counsel for many in the field of participatory sciences. Read about Dixon’s Lifetime Contributions to the Participatory Sciences ⋙
- Three AAPS Fellows advancing knowledge and resources for this community, and the inspiration of an emerging generation of scholars ⋙
- The active AAPS Student and Early-Career Affinity Group and their guidance on a first AAPS Career Forum ⋙
Collaborators advancing frontiers:
- Co-editors and authors of special collections in Citizen Science: Theory & Practice, such as the team addressing “The Future of AI and Citizen Science” ⋙
- Experts from fenceline communities who are raising expectations for, and offering their leadership to support, equitable research relationships ⋙
- Colleagues across this movement helping to lead and to co-create strategies for innovative funding and project resilience ⋙
Partners supporting practices:
- NASA’s years of support for both scientific excellence and authentic learning, through partnerships including the NASA CitSci Leaders Series ⋙ and the NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative ⋙
- Oregon State University’s STEM Research Center for conference leadership, advancing attention to critical knowledge such as for Respectful and Reciprocal Collaborations with Indigenous Communities ⋙
- The Citizen Science Global Partnership for organizing delegates from AAPS and around the world to share the significance of citizen and participatory sciences at UNEA 7 ⋙
- Organizations, including the Environmental Protection Network, allying to confront state legislations that ban use of community monitoring data ⋙
AAPS stands with, and stands up for, the people and the principles that keep this field strong. ⋙
Moving into 2026, this includes building on and building out new programming, including more workshops ⋙, Lunch & Learns ⋙, courses (more soon), and open forums for discussions (including a first, and timely, Community Read ⋙). All of this is possible only through partnerships and especially memberships from champions of this field such as yourself.
You can be part of this movement to ensure that everyone working for the best in participatory sciences has access to the support and resources they need to succeed. Become a member // Explore options to partner
To a bright 2026 for science that sustains our knowledge, learning, livelihoods, well-being, and wonder in the world around us!
