Collaborative Science in a Virtual World: Recognizing Limits and Leveraging Opportunities

OneNOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: 
CollaborativeScience in a Virtual World: Recognizing Limits and Leveraging Opportunities

Speakers: 
Kristen Goodrich, Tijuana River NERR; Shannan Lewinski, NOAA Office for Coastal Management; Julia Wondolleck, NERRS Science Collaborative; James Arnott, Aspen Global Change Institute

Seminar Sponsor: 
NERRS Science Collaborative   

Remote access: Please registerthrough GoToWebinar (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4293864892546663950).

Seminar Contact:
dwight.trueblood@noaa.gov or nsoberal@umich.edu

Abstract: 
Collaborative science involves working closely with partners and users at every stage – from conceptualizing a new project to conducting the research to refining tools to best meet a management need. As a result, it’s challenging to envision how the practice of collaborative science will adapt to our new, socially-distanced reality.

This panel discussion will explore some of the many implications of planning and conducting collaborative science virtually. Our three panelists have expertise in collaborative processes, stakeholder engagement, and virtual meeting design, and like all of us, they are learning more about the challenges and opportunities of virtual engagement.

The discussion will build on the needs and strategies identified by participants and initiate an ongoing dialogue about virtual engagement for collaborative science. While no one has all the answers, we are eager to learn together. Therefore please complete the additional questions in the registration form and submit ideas and questions during the webinar. A summary of responses will be shared during and after the webinar, including techniques, tools and resources that others are finding valuable.


About the speakers:
Kristen Goodrich is the Coastal Training Program Coordinator at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. There, she provides training and technical assistance to coastal decision-makers in Southern and Baja California. Working on the U.S.-Mexico border has provided her with a unique perspective on the challenges of – and opportunity for – collaboration and boundary spanning and inspires her research on psychosocial resilience.  


Shannan Lewinski is an instructional designer and learning specialist with NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. In this role she helps design trainings and offers guidance and production support for a range of virtual meetings and workshops.


Julia Wondolleck has spent the past 30 years researching and writing about collaborative processes in the management of natural resources. She is a professor at the University of Michigan where she teaches courses in collaborative resource management, alternative dispute resolution, and integrative negotiation and mediation.


James Arnott is the Executive Director of the Aspen Global Change Institute. James’ research seeks to understand how to better link scientific knowledge with decision-making through research on collaborative science and science funding. James is also a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan’s Graham Sustainability Institute.

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(Kristen Goodrich, Tijuana River NERR; Shannan Lewinski, NOAA Office for Coastal Management; Julia Wondolleck, NERRS Science Collaborative; James Arnott, Aspen Global Change Institute)