AAPS News Archives - Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences

05 Jun 2026

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…

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…

18 Dec 2025

By J_Shirk

2025 Highlights from the AAPS Community

AAPS News

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…

17 Sep 2025

By AAPS Board

AAPS Submits Amicus Brief on Community Air Monitoring in Louisiana

AAPS News, Law & Policyposition statement

Jay Benforado, Board Chair, Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences On September 5th, AAPS submitted an amicus brief (available below) to support a May 2025 lawsuit challenging a 2024 Louisiana law that restricts community air monitoring. AAPS has been tracking this legislative process, first formally commenting on it in December of 2024. The impacts of the law are significant, and the implications for the field of participatory sciences are concerning (i.e., other states enacting similar laws, future restrictions on other environmental monitoring like water quality, etc.). This has already had a chilling effect on community air monitoring in Louisiana, as large…

21 Aug 2025

By J_Shirk

Help safeguard Federal resources

AAPS News

Word reached AAPS recently that a wealth of insights and resources for this field–all housed at citizenscience.gov–was replaced by a single page listing volunteer opportunities at various agencies. We backed it up, but that's just step one (see more below). It is important to note that the new page links to many excellent resources, opportunities, and examples of citizen science, such as those from NASA, the Forest Service, EPA, and others. However, the overwriting of the original website (which contained a toolkit, case studies, a searchable project list, and more) reinforces concern about the future of those resources as well.…

24 Mar 2025

By AAPS Board

US Federal leadership in participatory sciences – a position statement

AAPS Newsmilestones, position statement

From across the AAPS membership and from partners in many sectors, we hear and share widespread concern that participatory science activities will be impacted by the current curtailing of US Federal agency budgets, personnel, and programs. AAPS is grounded in the work of science, education, and civic engagement. We care deeply about this country's commitments to and global leadership in those areas as a whole. The AAPS Board offers the attached position statement (below) to make sure that, in the midst of changes, the significance and value of the participatory sciences––and of Federal agency leadership in these practices––is not overlooked.…

19 Dec 2024

By Reanna Putnam

2024 Recognitions for Field Leaders

AAPS Newspeople

Many in the AAPS community were recognized for their work in the field this year. Join us in celebrating these shining stars this holiday season. Dr. Elena Bautista Sparrow of the University of Alaska Fairbanks received the Youth Environmental Science (YES) Medal for her work with the GLOBE program and other efforts in the Arctic from the Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists (YLAES). Darlene Cavalier of SciStarter became an Honorary Fellow of the Wagner Free Institute of Science. She was also named co-chair of the Innovation, Science, and Entrepreneurship Advisory Council (ISEAC), and will help to bring participatory sciences into the conversation about…

13 Dec 2024

By AAPS Board

Community Air Monitoring Supports Collaborative Problem Solving: A position statement on the Louisiana Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act

AAPS News, Law & Policyposition statement

The Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS) believes there is considerable value to be drawn from participatory sciences––for both science and society––and we strive to be the go-to organization to support both leaders and learners in this field. AAPS works to find opportunities to expand scientific discoveries and impacts, to rethink who gets to participate in and benefit from science, and to reimagine what is possible for communities, equitable research partnerships and action-oriented science. And, our role is to help spotlight what is working as well as what is not. As AAPS Board Chair, I am interested in finding ways…

28 Nov 2024

By AAPS Board

AAPS Strategic Directions: Creating a future where participatory sciences are relevant, valued, and used by both scientists and communities

AAPS News

Thank you for your interest in the dynamic and collaborative field of participatory sciences. Please check out the new strategic plan (2024-2027) for the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS), which is framed around mobilizing people, improving practices and creating partnerships. This is an exciting time, full of opportunities to change how science works, to rethink who gets to participate in and benefit from science, and to reimagine what is possible for communities, equitable research partnerships and action-oriented science. AAPS believes there is considerable value to be drawn from participatory sciences for science and society, and we strive to be…

Category: AAPS News