As a national leader in people-powered science, VCE is fulfilling its obligation to broaden the community that participates in field studies and benefits from them. Our outreach activities and internship program reflect our commitment to cultivating diversity not just in our corps of volunteers but in the field of community science itself.
Look at results from our 2019 survey of community scientists, which provide a baseline understanding of volunteer demographics and motivations.
Read VCE’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which guides our efforts to improve access to naturalist pursuits and professional opportunities in science.
Learn why we switched to more inclusive language in describing what we do.
Enjoy the reflections of two VCE interns, whose experience at VCE has helped prepare them to be a part of diversifying the field of ecology.
See how the Vermont Atlas of Life makes millions of biodiversity records available to any internet user in a variety of useful formats (scalable maps, tables, charts, and photographs).
Meet Desirée Narango, who brought urban and suburban ecology expertise to VCE when she joined the science team in 2022.
Find out how eButterfly, a VCE collaboration with Canadian partners, has made it possible for anyone with a smartphone, anywhere in the world, to collect useful data and identify unfamiliar butterfly species. And learn how the second Vermont Butterfly Atlas is using this tool to lower barriers to participation and verify field identifications.
Meet Levi Smith, a talented naturalist and recipient of our inaugural Youth Community Scientist of the Year Award. And learn how our Community Science Teacher Workshops are empowering educators to stoke their students’ scientific curiosity and motivate more youth to explore and care for the natural world.
Listen to a hopeful message from Doug Tallamy, one of North America’s most influential ecologists, given at the 2023 Biodiversity Jamboree, a free event attended by hundreds from several generations. This partnership with the North Branch Nature Center is the seed of a statewide community science network that we’ll cultivate with the addition of a community science coordinator to our staff.
Join us on select Fridays to learn about ALL IN for Biodiversity campaign-supported projects at Conservation Coffee Break.
