Shared Challenges and Solutions for Bringing Science to Communities: Lessons from the Resilience Dialogues
Abstract
The Resilience Dialogues was founded on the belief that a wealth of scientific information, data, and tools exists to integrate climate variability and change into a broad range of planning, engagement, and decision-making activities. However, many local communities are often uncertain how to begin, what this information means for them, and where to turn for trustworthy advice. Communities, especially smaller, isolated, or historically underserved communities, require personalized technical assistance, as well as to connect with experts who can help them understand their vulnerabilities and what climate resilience might look like in the future where they live. To meet this growing need, the Resilience Dialogues connects community leaders to a network of vetted national experts using a facilitated online process, helping to lay the groundwork for long-term resilience. These online discussions clarify local risks and opportunities, highlight strategies that have worked in other communities, identify the most relevant and useful data, tools, and networks, and build shared commitment to future plans and actions. The Resilience Dialogues views all participants - subject matter experts, facilitators, and community participants - as experts in their own right and seeks to harness their myriad knowledge and experience to deliver a service that benefits all participants.
The Resilience Dialogues has served 18 communities over three years and aims to reach 25 communities by the end of 2018. The program team has compiled feedback, success stories, and lessons learned in an effort to continue to improve the program and understand how to best meet the needs of local communities. Through this process, we have identified three challenges we believe are relevant to all efforts which seek to connect scientists with community leaders: 1) defining and connecting with your target audience; 2) building community capacity to advance beyond your program; and 3) measuring your program's impact. This presentation will describe the Resilience Dialogues' experience grappling with the challenges described above, and suggest common solutions that all Science to Action programs can align around in order to make progress on these challenges within and across our programs.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMPA33E1190J
- Keywords:
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- 1630 Impacts of global change;
- GLOBAL CHANGEDE: 4321 Climate impact;
- NATURAL HAZARDSDE: 4343 Preparedness and planning;
- NATURAL HAZARDSDE: 6329 Project evaluation;
- POLICY SCIENCES