Connect, Discover and Expand Citizen Science:

What will it take to realize the potential of citizens’ contributions to the science underlying environmental and human health?

Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at Tufts University on Friday, June 24th for an innovative conference featuring Ms. Gina McCarthy — EPA Administrator and Tufts Alumna, EG81

An Open Space Meeting

In the spirit of Citizen Science, this gathering will use the highly-participatory Open Space meeting format to host multiple conversations. The format is designed to allow participants to frame and convene the discussions they want to have. This dynamic approach will offer those in attendance the chance to share their knowledge, experience, questions, and enthusiasm for citizen-based science. We’ll extract our favorite part of conferences – the hallway meet ups, coffee chats, and informal conversations with interesting colleagues—and create the experience for the whole day.

What does this mean for me as a conference participant? 

We invite you to identify the questions, ideas and stories that keep you up at night. Come prepared to lead and/or participate in conversations about citizen science that will make a difference. Although we are focusing more on conversations than presentations, you have a 100% guarantee that you can convene a session on a citizen science-related topic that you are curious about and want to discuss with others. You can do this by yourself or with colleagues.

Questions to help you brainstorm:

What have we learned from our citizen science efforts to date? 
What are the areas of need and opportunity?   
What is needed to initiate or take projects to the next level? 
What are the barriers to the use of citizen science data?
What challenges do we face and how can we address them? 
What questions, large and small, are on your mind as you practice or contemplate the use of citizen science?

When:  June 24, 2016
Registration and coffee at 8:30am
Forum 9:30am- 4pm

By Invitation Only: REGISTER HERE by June 17, 2016
If you are planning to attend, please register. Space is limited.

Where:  Tufts University
574 Boston Avenue (4^th floor)
Medford, MA

Use public transportation with MBTA Trip planner or
Parking is available at Dowling Parking Garage ($8-)
419 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA

Event Sponsors: U.S. EPA Region 1, NEWIPCC, NESCAUM, NEWMOA and Tufts University

Anyone interested to participate in this event may contact Mieke van der Wansem at mieke.wansem@tufts.edu.

For other questions or special requests, please contact Emily Bender at 617-918-1037 or bender.emily@epa.gov