Community Soil-Air-Water: A Model Community-Based Learning Ecosystem

Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc., Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

The Community-Soil-Air-Water learning ecosystem will integrate community collaboration with geosciences research. To expand research collaboration capacity between geoscientists and community partners, this project will bring together three academic partners (Georgia State University, Spelman College, and Emory University) with two community organizations (the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance and ECO-Action). This project will address the question: How can Geoscientists learn from, contribute to, and find solutions with communities facing fundamental problems related to Earth systems? The project will examine how a learning ecosystem model centered in community-engaged, place-based research can increase: (1) recruitment, retention, and training of geoscientists; and (2) capacity for collaboration between geoscientists and communities addressing environmental problems. Cohorts of faculty and community organizers along with 12 post-baccalaureate (postbac) scholars and 15 Master’s students will be trained in building outreach and research projects with community partners using a framework of shared values of transparency and accountability. These projects will address critical needs in place-based Earth systems research including soil lead and other heavy metal contamination and radon exposure; air pollution, environmental change, and heat mapping; and water pollution, urban flooding, and green stormwater infrastructure. The overall goals and objectives of the project are to: 1) Build and formalize the Community-Soil-Air-Water learning ecosystem with all cohort members to solve environmental challenges; 2) Recruit cohorts of postbacs and Master’s students and train them in professional development, community engagement, and networking; 3) Implement training, programming, and pedagogy protocols to recruit, mentor, and support students, community collaborators, and faculty in the geosciences; 4) Develop an asset-based model of collaboration with community-driven research to include formal training, accountability, and assessment for engagement practices and outcomes; and 5) Grow a network, materials, and prototype to expand the Community-Soil-Air-Water learning Ecosystem model to other communities, universities, and institutions. Project partnerships will advance a broad range of scholarship on environmental problems and their solutions, and on best practices for geoscientists in community engagement and co-production. The project will provide a well-evaluated and successful model to adopt in transformative geosciences work across disciplines. Through broadening participation and building and enhancing partnerships with community groups, the Community-Soil-Air-Water learning ecosystem will provide a prototype to promote geoscience at other institutions and across disciplines. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.