ASPIRE Virtual Discussion Series (VDS)

Please join us for this series of vivid conversations around community-engaged geoscience that are co-led with ASPIRE UMCES program manager Scott Shatto, Communications Specialist Chelsea Ihnacik, and graduate student Nina Santos alongside Dr. Raj Pandya at Arizona State University. ASPIRE is led by Dr. Lora Harris (UMCES) and Dr. Cat Davis (UMCES) with collaborators across the country drawing from academic and local community settings.

The ASPIRE Virtual Discussion Series (VDS) is a good place for anyone interested in learning more about community-engaged science and research. If you are new to these topics, you’ll leave with a theoretical foundation and concrete steps to get started. If you already have experience, you can explore theories that will help you improve your work, explain it to others, and make a stronger case.

Webinars

Together with Community Leaders from across the nation, join a series of 6 discussions designed for geoscientists who want to explore the theories, principles, and practices that provide the foundations for research with community partners.

Topics include an introduction to community-engaged research in geoscience, centering community, building and maintaining relationships, learning from histories of scientific engagement with communities, data sharing and data sovereignty, and translating all this into practice.

Before each webinar, we’ll share optional readings and other materials you can use to get familiar with the topic. During the webinar, you’ll receive presentations from community leaders, participate in small-group discussions, plan how you’ll incorporate what you learn into your practice, and get feedback from community advisors.

Learning Circles

New in 2026, Virtual Discussion Series offers Learning Circles for groups of 6 committed participants who want to dive deeper on tools, skills & resources discussed in the webinars, and translate their learning into practice in a peer-supported space. Each Learning Circle convenes with an expert, teacher, or elder in community-engaged research, and an ASPIRE facilitator for peer to peer discussion.

Because Learning Circles are meant to be a space for courageous exploration with supportive peers, we ask folks to commit to participating in all meetings at their scheduled time, as much as possible.

Register for webinars and learning circles on the ASPIRE project website.