The BLOCK Project is a grassroots program confronting the challenge of skyrocketing rent and property values. The project builds detached accessory dwelling units in backyards to house people. To date, the project has built 10 homes, with another 5 anticipated within the next year.
Epidemiologist and microbiology PhD candidate Lyndsey Gray shares how she was able to dispel COVID disinformation by talking with her family.
Educators Stuart Loebl and Nancy Wright describe the "Science Kits" program they developed for the Hayward Unified School District to facilitate equitable science education during distance learning.
Varsha Chauhan is a physician and computer scientist. Her career trajectory has included leadership roles public health, health IT, and health systems administration. Most recently she was elected Board member of Eden Health District. ESAL interviewed Chauhan to learn more about how she has woven government and community engagement throughout her career.
After the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, many of us are concerned about the state of American democracy. ESAL Founder & Chair Arti Garg shares her thoughts on the importance of election integrity. She suggests steps we can each take to engage with our local governments about this issue.
On December 2, ESAL co-hosted “Creating Safe Post-Pandemic School Systems”, a virtual panel with the Architectural Engineering Institute. Panelists discussed risk management, engineering solutions, and practical considerations for reopening schools.
In November, ESAL spoke to members of the Wastewater Epidemiology for the Bay Area (Covid-WEB) team about wastewater epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 and the Covid-WEB project.
The Conservation Federation of Missouri's (CFM) mission is to ensure that the state’s wildlife, natural resources, and rich outdoor heritage are preserved through advocacy, education, and partnerships. ESAL spoke with Colton Zirkle, education and communications coordinator at CFM, to learn more about their work advocating for the Missouri outdoors.
Biophysicist Leah Cairns was a voter protection volunteer in the 2020 election as part of a "ballot curing" team in North Carolina. She shares her thoughts on how engaging locally can help fight voter suppression.
“Our expertise is science; their expertise is what they need.” This statement by panelist Elina Kostyanovskaya referred to the importance of listening to vulnerable communities. It was one of several key takeaways from the webinar “STEM Students Responding to COVID in their Communities,” which was jointly hosted by ESAL and the National Science Policy Network […]
Vanessa García Polanco is a federal policy associate at the National Young Farmers Coalition, as well as a member of the boards of the Agriculture, Food & Human Values Society and Michigan Food & Farming Systems. ESAL interviewed García Polanco about her trajectory to becoming a recognized activist-scholar for equitable, sustainable agriculture and food supply systems in Michigan and beyond.
ESAL volunteer Rebecca Mandt writes about how her experience as a genetics researcher has inspired her to get involved in her own community. She showcases the many tools ESAL offers and encourages readers to take the first step in local engagement.
