The Vaccination Conversations with Scientists program is a collaborative effort between volunteer scientists and engineers at Cornell and local county health departments to answer questions about vaccine safety and COVID-19 in the community. ESAL spoke with Kara Fikrig, Kara Rode Webber, and Rachael Skye to learn about their approach to overcoming vaccine hesitancy.
ESAL spoke with Sarah Fisher, the director of environmental education at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center to discuss importance of context on impact of environmental education efforts.
ESAL had the opportunity to speak with Meridith Perkins, current executive director of nonprofit Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, about canopy coverage in underserved communities and the importance of environmental education. Learn more about how Meridith brings empowers the local community with skills and opportunities to combat climate change in their own backyard.
The Cibolo Center for Conservation uses science to inform decision-makers about practices and policies that affect the quality of life in the region and to promote natural resource conservation. Learn more about their mission and unique approach to community citizen science.
ESAL had the opportunity to speak with the Local Science Engagement Network's campaign director Daniel Barry to learn more about how the program aims to equip scientists with tools for building long-term relationships with policymakers.
Counter Culture Labs is a community-centered biotech makerspace that provides local engagement through innovative projects in mycology, genomics, fermentation, and more. Learn more about the lab and how they have been able to get the public excited about science.
ESAL had the opportunity to sit down with chief data officer for First Street Foundation, Ed Kearns, to learn more about the web tool Flood Factor which helps homeowners across the US determine the flood risk of their property.
Read about the impact of the work done by Professor Denise Chavira’s research group, the Culture and Anxiety Lab for Mental Health Advances (CALMA) at UCLA. The group targets the extra hurdles ethnic minorities in rural communities of the U.S. have to manage around stigma, knowledge, and access to mental health services. Chavira's group is dedicated to improving mental health services in chronically underserved communities by working and building trust in Imperial Valley, California.
One Health Institute (OHI) has played a role in connecting scientists and policymakers in crafting local, science-driven solutions for urban development. OHI has expanded in purpose and scope to serve as that platform for communication and develop brand applications and websites so diverse groups can develop projects together. ESAL had the pleasure of speaking with Professor Susan VandeWoude, director at OHI to learn more about their initiatives.
