PLACE4FEWS: Volunteers needed to study Flagstaff's Food Energy and Water system
Recruiting for the spring 2018 PLACE4FEWS cohort is closed, but please submit an application to be considered for the waitlist or for the Fall 2018 cohort.
PLACE4FEWS Project Overview
Public Participation in STEM Research: Local Awareness and Community Engagement for Food, Energy, and Water Systems (PLACE4FEWS).
We are looking for 8-10 citizens of the Flagstaff region (not limited to city boundaries) who are committed to the scientific study of our local Food, Energy, and Water Systems and to the communication of research findings to our city’s leadership and citizenry. Participants will work with Northern Arizona University (NAU) scientists to identify the sources of our community’s food, water, and energy supplies and to research the security and sustainability of those supplies. This project is designed as a pilot program that will provide the foundation for sustainable citizen science that will improve FEW Systems in Flagstaff, Arizona, and will serve as a model for other communities across the United States. Be a part of a first-of-its-kind NAU science project that will help improve our community’s sustainability and security!
For questions about volunteering with PLACE4FEWS, please contact Sean.Ryan@nau.edu. For general questions about the project, contact PLACE4FEWS@nau.edu.
If you are a member of the community or campus who is not currently working in the field, but would like to learn more and contribute to this research, then please consider applying for the following citizen scientist role:
Volunteer Citizen Scientist Role
- Learn about the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems, and the scientific methods needed to understand these systems.
- Participate in local workshops and work sessions.
- Investigate local problems of interest and identify key stakeholders in the Food, Energy, and Water Systems of Flagstaff, AZ.
- Measure vulnerability, resilience, and sustainability in the FEW supply chains of Flagstaff, AZ.
- Communicate findings with community members and key stakeholders
Time Commitment
Over the next 12 months citizen scientists will be asked to dedicate approximately 50 total hours of time towards participation in training, research, and community outreach.
Requirements
- Be willing to participate in 100% of project activities, which include training workshops and follow-up meetings, data collection, providing feedback, and communicating with community members.
- Be willing to use/learn about computer systems for data entry and access to graphical visualizations (no prior skills or technology access needed, but general computer literacy and skills are desirable).
Compensation
- $75 stipend
- FEWSION Citizen Scientist Certification – Training Workshops and follow up meetings.
- Professional development and support with NAU professors and staff.
- Access to cutting edge data visualization systems.
- Recognition and potential publication in research that advances the field of urban informatics in small cities, FEW Systems, and Public Participation in STEM Research (PPSR).
Making a Difference
- Identify key problems of interest for FEW issues in the Flagstaff Community
- Contribute to collecting information that key stakeholders and community members can use to make informed decisions about FEW-related policies and business decisions.
- Improve the sustainability of Flagstaff by identifying ways to limit vulnerability and increase resilience of our Food, Energy, and Water supply chains.