Over the past year, AAPS has begun piloting an early-career Fellowship program, one that has revealed the breadth of expertise and passion shaping this movement’s future. Dr. Veronica Del Bianco, our second AAPS Fellow, has been a member of this Association since her early grad school days, and we are pleased to know that she forged significant connections via our conferences to expand her project evaluation skills. Through this Fellowship she has used those skills and insights to help better understand what AAPS members value, and inform next steps for AAPS to build on that.
You may have already connected with Veronica through a member survey – below is her introduction to what she brings to this community and what she is gaining through this experience.
Veronica Del Bianco: Like many others, I began my journey in citizen science as an elementary student participating in Cornell’s Great Backyard Bird Count in Frederick, Maryland. I still remember the excitement of observing birds in my backyard and knowing that my data was contributing to real scientific research. That early experience planted the seed for a lifelong passion for science. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working extensively in this participatory science field, exploring it across various contexts, including informal youth programs, online platforms, and field-based investigations. Currently, I serve as adjunct faculty at Loyola University New Orleans in the Environment Program, where I developed and taught Exploring Citizen Science to undergraduates this past fall. Additionally, I work as a research and evaluation consultant.
A key part of my professional growth in participatory sciences began with my involvement in AAPS. At Citizen Science 2017 in Minnesota, I presented my dissertation, Citizen Science in 4-H: Youth Volunteer Motivations, Participation, Retention, and Scientific Literacy. This research explored what motivates youth to engage in citizen science projects, what keeps them involved, and how participation influences their scientific literacy. Two years later, at CitSci 2019 in Raleigh, I sought out Dr. Cathlyn (Cat) Davis to discuss a postdoctoral position she was advertising. That conference meet-up—on a hallway bench—eventually led to an incredible opportunity to collaborate with an inspiring group of women developing and studying embedded assessments in a dozen citizen science projects (Streamline Embedded Assessment).
More recently, as co-chair of AAPS’ Research & Evaluation (R&E) Working Group, I’ve had the chance to facilitate discussions on assessing learning in participatory sciences and shaping a research agenda for the field over the next decade. This work has allowed me to connect with professionals who share my passion for understanding the impact of participatory science programs.
What I Wish More People Knew About Evaluation in Participatory Sciences
Evaluation isn’t just about measuring success—it’s about learning, improving, and making programs more meaningful for participants and scientific discovery. One of the biggest misconceptions is that evaluation is done at the end of a project, but it’s important to remember that evaluation should be an ongoing process. When built into a participatory project design from the start, evaluation can help refine goals, highlight unexpected outcomes, and ensure that participatory science initiatives are as impactful and inclusive as possible.
Another critical aspect of evaluation is recognizing that impact goes beyond just scientific contributions. While participatory science projects often emphasize data collection for research purposes, the personal and community-level benefits—such as increased environmental awareness, strengthened science identities, and greater civic engagement—are equally important. By adopting a more holistic approach to evaluation, we can better understand the full scope of participatory science’s value and use that knowledge to design even more effective and engaging programs.
What Drew Me to This Opportunity
The opportunity to help shape the AAPS member survey was particularly exciting to me because surveys are powerful tools for gathering insights that drive meaningful change. I’m eager to contribute to the development of an instrument that will help AAPS better understand and support its members. By refining survey questions to capture the nuances of participatory science work, we can ensure that AAPS makes data-driven decisions that benefit the entire community. I’m honored to serve as an AAPS Membership Value Fellow and look forward to collaborating with colleagues to strengthen our community and advance the field.
