When engineers partner with community groups, they can use their expertise to support local advocacy efforts, leading to more effective and equitable policy change. However, engineers are rarely trained in how to meaningfully engage with other community stakeholders. This workshop will feature a variety of ways that engineers can use their expertise in service of […]

Cynthia Prieto-Diaz, a biomedical engineer by training, actively contributes to scientific discourse by volunteering, engaging with city governments, and advocating for STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) involvement and consideration in local governance.Prieto-Diaz currently holds a position on the leadership team for 500 Women Scientists and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Cal Poly Pomona-Latin Alumni Network.

Learn about how, founder and executive director of the Illinois Science Council, Monica Metzler uses her legal training and writing background from working with the Illinois House of Representatives and Democratic National Convention to make science concepts clear and accessible to the public.

Local policymakers and community leaders across the country must increasingly confront a host of issues in which technology plays a pivotal role. From climate adaptation to election security to combating misinformation, making progress on these issues requires technical expertise often absent in local government. This provides a high-impact pathway through which tech professionals on both […]

The Thriving Earth Exchange project aims to amplify climate narratives in migrant communities. A science educator and artist, Amaris Alanis-Ribeiro, center director of the North Park Village Nature Center in northwest Chicago, noticed the changing demographics of Albany Park and realized the potential of partnering with their local community to share stories, inspire conversations, and celebrate unique cultures and identities across Chicago. Learn more about how Alanis-Ribeiro maintains a connection to her artistic interests, while forging a path in science outreach leadership.

On May 8th, ESAL and the Ecological Society of America co-hosted a virtual event centered around the urgency of protecting wetlands and their significance in maintaining climate resilience in the future. Learn about the ways the event speakers encourage public engagement.

Learn more about the recent history of nuclear energy usage in the United States and how both national and state-level policies are shaping its future.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is an independent, non-profit organization focused on advancing safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy for society through global collaboration, science and technology innovation, and applied research. EPRI also conducts nuclear-focused research in the areas of materials management, fuels and chemistry, plant performance, and strategic initiatives. ESAL spoke with Maria […]

Join Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally and the Ecological Society of America to learn how science and policy intersect to protect waterways, hear from local advocates for ecologically sound practices, and discuss the potential impact of an ongoing Supreme Court Case. Rain fills our rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, but how does it get there? Wetlands are vital to managing […]