ESAL spoke with Kelly Oten, an assistant professor at NCSU, to the North Carolina Bradford Pear Bounty's goals and its collaboration with North Carolina State University (NCSU) Extension, and the state’s Forest Service, Urban Forest Council, and Wildlife Federation to remove the ‘Bradford’ pear, an invasive and nuisance species in the South.

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.

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.

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.

Ashton Powell is a biology instructor at the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics and elected member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education. He spoke with ESAL about how he uses his research and policy background to improve equity and mental health issues in the classroom.

The AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange program connects communities with scientists to develop community science programs tackling natural hazards, resources, and climate change. These projects are driven by the philosophy that all communities should have access to science.

The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) helps K-12 students explore real-world environmental problems using sustainability as a guiding framework. Programs like their Civic Science Program engage students in collecting data, learning its implications, and developing advocacy skills.

Jim Treglio is a retired materials scientist who mobilized a Community Emergency Response Team program in San Diego. Treglio shared his experience using his technical background to work with the local fire department and how scientists can contribute to community response efforts.

Peter Colohan, an expert in environmental information, has spent his career helping institutions like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Office of Science and Technology Policy become data savvy. Today, as executive director of the Internet of Water (IoW), he and his team help local and state governments modernize their water data collection in an effort to safeguard and effectively manage one of the most vital resources to human civilization.