[U-08] What is the true value of Knowledge Creation? Science and Society, Collaboration and Evaluation

[U08-01] The Impact and Promise of AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange in Co-creating Tools and Solutions with Communities

★Invited Papers

*Natasha Udu-gama¹, Billy Williams¹ (1.American Geophysical Union)

Keywords:co-creation, community science, co-production

Communities of all types around the world consistently experience issues related to climate change, natural hazards, and natural resources. These experiences range from increased flooding due to weather changes and extreme events to health impacts of hydraulic fracturing and industry. Community science is an opportunity for these communities to connect their priorities around these issues with scientists and technical experts interested in working with them to develop tools and solutions that are impactful and feasible in those localities and communities. Since 2013, AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange has acted as a mechanism to connect AGU’s over 350,000 members and affiliates in 147 countries to communities of place, interest, advocacy, faith, etc. to express an interest to connect with science and scientists to co-create tools and solutions that address their priority and create meaningful local impacts in those communities.

In this talk, we will describe how AGU has acted as an incubator for community science, how AGU has grown a program that has successfully brought communities and scientists together to co-create impactful tools and solutions to community issues ranging from air quality to water quality in over 314 communities in the United States and 11 other countries, and some potential opportunities for growing and scaling the program to support more communities around the world. Come learn how community science has revolutionized the practice of science and how you can get involved!