AAPS Blog Home - Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences

01 Sep 2026

Call for 2027 Organized Session Now Open!

Conference#CAPS2027

The CAPS Program Committee invites submissions for organized sessions that advance a proposed topic of importance in the field. Proposing an organized session is your opportunity to shape discussion around issues you care about, build collaborations, and showcase your leadership in the field. AAPS conferences bring together all of the people and perspectives needed for projects to thrive. That includes academics from all disciplines, community leaders, data managers, tech designers, librarians, and all who are part of project teams. Session conveners play an important role in creating meaningful event experiences where this multifaceted community can learn from one another. Organized…

30 Jun 2026

By Reanna Putnam

Make your mark on AAPS Conferences!

Conference, Uncategorized

We are actively seeking volunteers to join the CAPS 2027 Program Planning Committee. Like much of this field, AAPS conferences are supported by volunteer committee members who shape both the vision and design of our events as well as provide critical support for submission review and program curation. The Committee meets twice monthly to discuss event themes, structures, and opportunities for innovations in how we conference. Taking an active role in the conference program committee can help you: Make your mark on the field’s leading event. Conference volunteers have been integral in establishing structures to efficiently plan and implement virtual…

26 Jun 2026

By Sarah Clement

Advancing science learning and community-relevant knowledge production- lessons from CAPS 2026 youth education sessions

Conference, Educationattendee recaps, CAPS 2026

Engaging youth in participatory science is a powerful approach for advancing both science learning and community-relevant knowledge production. By contributing to authentic data collection and analysis, students participate in the practices of science rather than merely learning about them. These experiences also enhance motivation and STEM identity development, particularly when students see their contributions informing real research or local decision-making. Because many citizen science projects are embedded in local contexts, they foster place-based learning and can deepen youths’ connections to their communities and environments. For teachers, participatory science offers a practical mechanism for integrating NGSS-aligned standards and practices into everyday…

10 Jun 2026

By Natasha Udu-gama

Addressing the Issue of Sustainable Funding for the Participatory Sciences

Uncategorizedattendee recaps, CAPS 2026, funding, program snapshot

Recent funding sessions on participatory science from key CAPS 2026 sessions addressing funding including a May 26th strategic discussion on funding, a YLACES session on braided funding and May 29th’s have made one thing clear: the field cannot treat sustainability as a grant-seeking problem alone. Whether organizations are navigating fragmented partnerships, adjusting to funding cuts, or trying to keep programs free and equitable, they are hitting the same wall. Genuine partnerships take time, but funders often reward speed. Multiple institutional layers create silos, but projects need coordination. And operational costs, though oftentimes seen as mundane, absolutely matter, despite most grants…

05 Jun 2026

By J_Shirk

Board Candidates for 2026 Member Vote

AAPS Newsboard, members

Members of the AAPS Board play a crucial role in shaping the future of this Association. As a working board responsible for the governance and oversight of a growing nonprofit organization, the makeup of the Board is essential to its success. For a detailed overview of the roles of Board Members, find a list of AAPS Board Member Responsibilities here. In line with the mission and strategic plan of AAPS, the Governance Committee has sought candidates with experience and skills in fundraising, equity and inclusion, and management of non-profit organizations. We encourage those who have skills in creating sponsorships and organizational partnerships…

22 Apr 2026

By J_Shirk

Call for Applicants: Editor in Chief of CSTP

AAPS News, Journal

Citizen Science: Theory and Practice is currently inviting applications from experienced editors to serve as the journal's next Editor-in-Chief. Applications due 15 August 2026 for onboarding to begin 15 Oct 2026. This is an unique opportunity for a highly-motivated scholar to gain field-wide visibility and provide visionary influence across the landscape of publishing in citizen and participatory sciences. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice (CSTP) is an online-only, open-access, and peer-reviewed journal established in 2014 by the nonprofit Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS) and published by Ubiquity Press. Through a burgeoning partnership with the European Citizen Science Association, the journal…

07 Apr 2026

By Reanna Putnam

Improve Your Project Communications by Thinking Like a Scientist

Resources, UncategorizedCourses, project design, science communication

Participatory science project leaders wear a lot of hats. And one of the most underappreciated, and frustrating to some, roles is that of a communicator. You’re expected to maintain a social media presence, send newsletters, and overall build an engaged community of participants — all on the side while you’re doing the job of actually running your project. A lot of people who put effort into their communications approach them as a task-based chore: Post your post, send your email, check the boxes. But far fewer have a good sense of whether checking these boxes is actually accomplishing anything. The…

18 Feb 2026

By Reanna Putnam

New Course! Strategic Communication for Participatory Science Practitioners

Uncategorized

Participatory science leaders may try to communicate with everyone about everything—social media, newsletters, participant engagement, blogs, media outreach—and end up burned out with little to show for it. This course teaches a different approach: strategic communication that helps you do less while achieving better results. Learn to diagnose your project's communication needs, define specific target audiences (not "the general public"), and match your strategy to your actual capacity. Through recorded lectures, live workshopping sessions, and practical templates to keep, you'll develop skills to translate scientific results for different audiences, make smart decisions about which communication channels are worth your time,…

12 Feb 2026

By J_Shirk

2026 Call for Interest in AAPS Leadership (Board and more)

AAPS News

The Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS) is seeking passionate individuals to play a leadership role in guiding the Association's future activities. There are several ways to get involved, depending on your interests, experiences, and skills, including serving on the AAPS Board. Other opportunities include leadership in working groups, affinity groups, or program teams (such as planning the conference or other professional development activities). We're on the lookout for a talented and diverse group of volunteers, so please forward this to other people whom you think would be interested. We will be in touch with all nominees to explore best-fit…

20 Jan 2026

By Reanna Putnam

Looking for sustainable funding for your project?

UncategorizedCAPS 2026, program snapshot

Looking to build a sustainable source of funding for your project? Let these sessions inspire and activate you: Funding Participation: Building Sustainable Pathways for Participatory SciencesClosing Plenary [Friday, May 29, 4:00 PM] Participatory science delivers public value but is often underfunded by systems built for traditional research. This closing symposium session is designed to help researchers, funders, and policymakers examine how participatory science is funded now, where the biggest structural barriers persist, and what more sustainable pathways could look like in practice. Through brief perspectives and guided Q and A, participants will identify practical strategies to sustain participatory sciences beyond…