Reanna Putnam, Author at Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences

17 Dec 2025

Reaching the Right People: Two Upcoming Events for Participatory Science Project Leaders

Uncategorizedevents, lunch and learn, virtual events

This winter, join us for two engaging Lunch and Learn designed to help participatory science project leaders expand their reach and strengthen connections with their audiences. On January 21, learn how SciStarter can help your project connect with more volunteers and boost engagement through practical tools and strategies. Then, on February 21, dive into a candid conversation about science communication—why your project might not be getting the attention it deserves and what actually works when it comes to engaging participants and the public. Whether you’re looking to grow your volunteer base or communicate your impact more effectively, these sessions offer…

04 Dec 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Call for Individual Presentations Now Open!

Conference

Share your insights, research, experience or new ideas about practices for participatory sciences with colleagues from around the globe. Submit an idea for an individual presentation at our Virtual 2026 Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences (CAPS). Share Your Work This year's virtual event will take place online across four half days, 26-29 May 2026, and is your opportunity to expand and connect with science professionals, engagement specialists, funders, app designers, community leaders, and others can help you focus on and enhance your work in this field. The submission process is quick and we welcome submissions from the many approaches to this work-citizen science, community…

19 Nov 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Virtual Fishbowl Tips from AAPS

Uncategorizedvirtual events

We successfully adapted the fishbowl format to a fully virtual setting for our 2025 Fall Meeting and Community Conversation. Here are four strategies we used that can help you plan your next virtual fishbowl: Pre-select your first round of participants. This group received prompts in advance and had a meeting to discuss expectations and talking points. Having a group model the format helped others know how to engage. Use a virtual background to display discussion prompt and timer. This helped keep the prompt visible without a shared screen, and kept the timer front and center. We leveraged the pre-set features…

19 Nov 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Building Resilience in the Participatory Sciences: Insights from Our Community Conversation

Uncategorized

The path forward for science is rarely straightforward—especially in times of funding uncertainty. Yet, by coming together, we can uncover new ways to strengthen our work, partnerships, and resilience. Last month, AAPS hosted a dynamic community conversation on project resilience, exploring strategies to sustain vital programs during lean funding cycles. Common Challenges in a Tight Funding Landscape We shared a pre-event survey in lead up to the event that highlighted shared challenges: maintaining staff capacity, engaging communities, disseminating results, and sustaining infrastructure, equipment, and DEI efforts. Funding uncertainties have amplified these issues, forcing many to rethink how they support their…

16 Oct 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Conversation with Platform Leaders: 4 December 2025

Uncategorized

Curious about platform features? Want to hear what’s new? No matter where you are in your project’s lifecycle and whether you are on a custom or shared platform, this conversation with platform developers will give you insights, ideas, or inspiration for your project’s next steps. In this webinar, we walk you through some key considerations for choosing the right platform and hear from the six most commonly used web platforms for data collection/classification supporting participatory science projects in North America: CitSci.org; Zooniverse; FieldScope; Anecdata; iNaturalist; and GLOBE Observer. While we spend some time on platform features and updates, we will…

15 Oct 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Call for Abstracts Policy and Decision-Making

Journalspecial collection

CITIZEN SCIENCE: THEORY AND PRACTICE Special Collection: Citizen Science for Evidence-based Policy and Decision-Making Call for Abstracts Issue editors: Muki Haklay1,2, Smriti Safaya3,4, Jay Benforado5, Peter Elias6, Marius Oesterheld7 University College London, UK Learning Planet Institute, France Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, UK CitizenScience.Asia Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences, USA University of Lagos, Nigeria Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Germany Citizen Science: Theory and Practice is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal providing a central space for cross-disciplinary, scholarly exchanges aimed at advancing the field of citizen science by providing a venue for citizen science…

01 Oct 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Support attention to a topical area of practice at CAPS 2026

Uncategorized

Partner with us! Highlight your leadership and bring new dimensions to the attendee experience. There is still time to partner to convene a topical strand to bring critical attention to priority topics throughout the week long event. If you are interested in supporting attention to a topical area of practice, contact us for options (director@citizenscience.org). We are also looking for sponsors interested in supporting translation services for the event. If you would like to help make conferencing accessible for Spanish speaking colleagues in the Global South (and elsewhere), please contact us ASAP. Past Partners Have Supported: A Biodiversity Beyond Borders special…

11 Sep 2025

By Reanna Putnam

Now accepting proposals for CAPS 2026 Sessions

ConferenceCAPS 2026

Our virtual conference highlights emerging and long-time leaders within the participatory sciences via dynamic discussions in a variety of formats. While session topics for the virtual conference have historically been identified by the Program Committee, this year we are turning to the community to tell us what conversations you most want to hear. We know that with your help, we will build a virtual conference program that is inspiring and actionable. Proposing a conference session is your opportunity to elevate the issues you care most about, build collaborations, and share your unique perspective with the broadest possible audience. Convening a session at CAPS Virtual (May…

09 Sep 2025

By Reanna Putnam

AAPS Fall Meeting and Community Conversation

Events

Join us for a community conversation about project resilience amidst funding uncertainty. As part of the AAPS official fall meeting, this 1.5 hour online session opens with the Association’s annual report and highlights commitments to confronting challenges and fostering a bright future for this field. The headline event–a fishbowl discussion–aims to explore the hidden synergies and untapped resources that can help projects stay afloat during lean funding cycles. At AAPS, we know that we do science better together, and through this event we strive to identify ways we as a community can support one another and continue to grow as a…

08 Sep 2025

By Reanna Putnam

2025 Lunch and Learn Series

Eventsevents

Drop in this fall for “lunchtime” chats with AAPS leaders and members. This new series offers members the chance to engage directly with experts and leaders around timely topics. Designed to launch conversation and collaboration, sessions open with a brief overview from the host and speaker, and shift quickly to audience-driven discussions. Each session’s free registration also invites your questions in advance, to help prime conversations around details of interest to you. This fall’s sessions will address these questions: Can states ban use of community monitoring data? September 30th, 1pm ET With: Jay Benforado (EPA, retired and AAPS Board Chair),…

Author: Reanna Putnam