On June 24, nearly forty people gathered on a video call to share what they learned at Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences (CAPS) and hear about what they missed. We had a lively discussion focused on themes addressed by the conference presenters. Ideas shared covered new topics like artificial intelligence and machine learning, and new ideas about old challenges such as engaging and training volunteers. Here are some of the things that our conversation covered:
Strategies for engaging new communities and participants in projects that center these new groups, and tips for doing this successfully with partner organizations and third party advisors.
New approaches to training volunteers and engaging volunteers over the long term, particularly by inviting them to participate in advanced work, special projects, or side projects that emerge in the course of a project.
New insights and models for AI ethics and other emerging technology
Outcomes in addition to scientific findings from participatory projects.
Observations on the shifting funding landscape. Private foundations, while supportive of the participatory sciences, cannot fill the full scope of the gap left by federal funding cuts. Engaging with and securing funding from private foundations will take research and relationship building to find areas of mutual benefit.
CAPS attendees compiled a shared notes document with takeaways, links to posters and talks shared online, and more. This document is organized into themes to help you most quickly find the advice you need.
One of the most practical things shared during the event was the Candid online Foundation Directory, a searchable database of foundations with free access available through many public libraries. I was also struck by the value of hearing from people working OUTSIDE of the US, particularly from Europe, on topics from AI to scaling projects up. To me it was a good reminder to keep looking east, in this case, for ideas and new models/methods.
If you are inspired to learn more about topics like these, consider attending next year’s virtual conference, which will be all online in late spring 2026.