Evergreen State College, The
IN-2: Innovation 2

The Research Ambassador Program is an innovative program at The Evergreen State College that is funded by the National Science Foundation. It is one of a small number of projects that is supported as a “Early-Concept Grant for Exploratory Research”. We foster creative public engagement by bringing science and scientists to non-traditional public audiences.

We work with academic researchers in fields of ecosystem science, connecting them with receptive but non-traditional audiences such as senior citizen centers, prisons, faith-based communities, trade groups, and professional organizations. We help researchers develop accessible and interactive communication strategies, including lectures, popular magazine articles, public-friendly websites, and citizen science projects. We also provide evaluation tools to assess the effects of these activities on the scientists and the public audiences.

In 2011, our program focused on recruiting and hosting junior and senior scientists at The Evergreen State College. During their three-day visits, we provide intensive training in communications, and academic researchers presented their scientific research to four year old children, inmates at state prisons, seniors, church-goers, and faculty and students of the College. These fellowships provide a unique opportunity for scientists to receive training, collaborate, and engage in creative outreach.

The Research Ambassador Program is directed by The Evergreen State College faculty member Nalini Nadkarni, and managed day-to-day by full-time Program Manager Amy Stasch. The program is currently funded by The National Science Foundation (NSF DEB 09-56301), and has previously received support from The National Geographic Society and the Guggenheim Foundation.