Local Science Engagement Network Community

Hello LSEN Community,

I'm excited to welcome you to the Local Science Engagement Network (LSEN)! Whether you've been part of LSEN for a while or are just now joining us, I'm thrilled to have you here. This community is all about connection, collaboration, and working together to make a meaningful impact.

I'm Briana Hudson, Assistant Director of Community Engagement at AAAS. I hold a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health from East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine. My passion lies in community engagement, especially at the intersection of science and public health. I believe science has the power to drive change and improve lives, and I'm dedicated to ensuring that scientific expertise is accessible, relevant, and impactful for communities everywhere.

At AAAS, I'm focused on supporting LSEN by helping to build strong connections between STEMM professionals and the communities they serve. Together, we can work toward addressing critical challenges and advancing science for the benefit of all.

Now, I'd love to hear from you! Here are a few questions to spark the conversation:

• What motivates you to engage with your community through science, and how do you see that impact growing? 
• What are some ways LSEN and AAAS can support you in your community engagement efforts?
• How can we better mobilize to tackle challenges like health equity, climate change, or access to STEMM education?
• How can we all contribute to making science more accessible and engaging for communities?

Thank you for being part of this inspiring and impactful community. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and working together to make a difference!

Warmly,

Briana Hudson, MPH

Assistant Director of Community Engagement, AAAS

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Briana Hudson
WASHINGTON DC
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Hi all,

My name is Anne Toomey and I'm relatively new to AAAS, but I joined to connect with other likeminded researchers who are passionate about public engagement in science. I'm an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Science at Pace University in New York City, and the author of a new book, Science with Impact
How to Engage People, Change Practice, and Influence Policy.

I love the questions that Briana poses above and am really interested to hear what others think. I believe that we, as a community, need to move away from the idea that facts alone will change minds, and to think more intentionally about how scientific knowledge can be shared with diverse social communities (especially those that are underserved by and/or resistant to science).

I'm planning to go to the annual meeting in February, but I don't know others who are going. It would be terrific if anyone (individuals or a group) would be interested in meeting up to discuss these questions.

Best,

Anne

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Anne Toomey
SLEEPY HOLLOW NY
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Hi Briana, 

My name is Doug and I'm also new to the AAAS community. I hold a MS degree in Molecular Biology and I currently manage a team at BMS in our Cell Therapy Operations department. 

The first thing that came to mind after reading your post here would be to organize a public science fair. Now, I have no idea what goes into that, as I'm sure a permit is required for open spaces or buildings. However, getting either prospective scientists, students, teachers, kids, and/or professionals gathered at a local event specifically showcasing the scientific method (at diferent levels of experience) would draw a crowd (to my mind, anyway!) - if accompanied by sufficient marketing and advertisement (social media, local paper, flyers, etc). How could we make something like that successful?

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Douglas Job
Flemington NJ
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Hello,

I know I'm a tad late to this thread but I just recently joined this group and did not want to miss out on the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Hailey and I am also relatively new to AAAS. I hold a B.S. in immunology and infectious disease from Penn State University and am currently working on my M.S. in sustainable management from University of Wisconsin. I work as a specialist on the Academic Partnerships team at the Association of Public Health Laboratories where I manage our volunteer program for outreach and our growing K-12 outreach initiatives.

I'm drawn to science outreach because I see it as a great tool for us to make science more accessible and engaging for not only students, but members of the general public as well. I'm looking forward to building a community of STEM professionals who also have an interest in science outreach so we can make connections in the community and create new ways for all people to access STEMM education.

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Hailey Reiss
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Quakertown PA
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