This April, we’re launching our first on-demand course: The Local Civic Engagement Toolkit for People in STEM. Hear from two of ESAL's team members who have been central to making this course possible.

New support to enhance your local civic engagement The team at Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) has developed a brand new offering, launching publicly this April. We will be hosting our first ever course on local civic engagement, available on-demand. Designed for learners with STEM backgrounds, this comprehensive course provides instruction on civic actions […]

Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) is expanding its board with four leaders who exemplify what civic-minded STEM leadership looks like in action. Darin Gray, EdD, Julia Biggins, PhD, Meredith Drosback, PhD, and Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MD, FACP, bring a wide range of experience spanning STEM education, infectious disease and biodefense, science policy and communication, and public health and community leadership.

ESAL is launching opportunities for organizations to join ESAL Community and gain visibility, training, and leadership opportunities for their members. An exclusive benefit of higher membership tiers includes access to our new ESAL Community Fellowships, which support local civic engagement projects.

ESAL is proud to share our Annual Report for July 2024 to June 2025, celebrating a year of momentum, growth, and deepened community engagement. Read the full report to celebrate what we accomplished together.

On this episode of "Questions of the Day" on CivicSciTV (recorded on the sidelines of the 2025 Science Talk conference in Raleigh, North Carolina), Fanuel Muindi interviews Taylor Spicer, ESAL's executive director. Spicer provides a behind-the-scenes look at how ESAL fosters civic engagement among STEM professionals at the local level.

ESAL's executive director, Taylor Spicer, speaks on a science policy podcast with Lisa Margonelli, editor in chief at Issues in Science & Technology, about the importance of local connections and engagement and her path to lead ESAL.

ESAL is excited to welcome Al Licata as our new program manager. With a background in neuroscience and nonprofit administration, Al brings a deep passion for both STEM and local advocacy. In this Q&A, they share their journey, motivations, and vision for the role.

Changes in federal policies have had significant impacts on many engineers and scientists as well as the broader scientific enterprise. These changes have implications not just for federal agencies and programs but also for the ways in which science informs decision-making at all levels of government.