Introducing the Community Science Special Interest Group
Chloë Chesney
Dear all,
We’re delighted to introduce the Community Science Special Interest Group (SIG) of the British Ecological Society!
Our group’s mission is to:
Provide a forum for sharing and showcasing current community science in ecology, fostering creativity, inclusivity, interdisciplinarity, and innovation in participatory and co-created research.
Strengthen connections between community science initiatives across disciplines, scales, and sectors — from local partnerships grounded in local ecological knowledge to global collaborations addressing shared ecological challenges.
Encourage networking and exchange of expertise among students, volunteers, researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers who are engaged in or inspired by community science, supporting the development of new projects and skills.
Promote best practice in ethical, inclusive, and collaborative research that values diverse ways of knowing and deepens understanding of the complex, reciprocal relationships between people and nature.
As a new SIG, we’re actively looking for new members!
We have several exciting events in the pipeline! Follow us on Bluesky and keep an eye out for our first newsletter, where we’ll share upcoming activities, community highlights, and research news.
If you have an idea for a Community Science SIG event - big or small - please get in touch.