Explore AAPS | Association for Advancing the Participatory Sciences (original) (raw)

Participatory sciences include community science, citizen science, community-based monitoring, volunteer research, and more — research and monitoring efforts that depend on knowledge, insights, or observations from members of the public.

What We Do

Members of the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences are building, sustaining, researching, and advancing these projects — they are scientists, project managers, educators, evaluators, researchers, students, community leaders, policymakers, communicators and more. By uniting across disciplines, roles, and perspectives, members advance their own work and this field as a whole.

Together We Advance the Field

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Find Resources?

AAPS resources highlight the innovative practices that lead to powerful partnerships for discovery, learning, and action.

Make Connections?

Engage in cross-cutting conversations about ideas and practices, ask questions, find job opportunities, attend exclusive field-building events, and grow your network with connections to practitioners from across disciplines, roles, perspectives, and places.

Make Things Happen?

Our Groups work to advance big ideas, establish best practices, and convene topical conversations that move this field forward.

Annual Conference

Connecting Participatory Science Practitioners

Our annual conferences bring attention to cutting-edge and evidence-based practices from many contexts, and connect people from across those contexts to highlight areas of innovation, share ideas and insights, and forge stronger relationships and practices across the field.

The Latest AAPS Conference News —

December 4, 2025

An open access journal — articles are free to read.

The Journal

Citizen Science: Theory and Practice

The Citizen Science: Theory and Practice (CSTP) Journal is an online, open-access, and peer-reviewed publication that strives to advance theories and practices of citizen science and other participatory sciences; serve those interested in and contributing to citizen science across all disciplines and in all nations; and partner with organizations supporting citizen science and related endeavors. The Journal is an integral part of the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences and is published by Ubiquity Press. It would not be possible without the significant support of its many volunteer contributors including its leadership team, editors, reviewers, and advisors.

Featured Resources

Webinars

Webinars by leaders and peers share tools, tips, and reflections on best practices and emerging issues across the field of participatory sciences.

Data Ethics Toolkit

Better understand your role as data handlers in identifying, satisfying, and/or balancing ethical obligations of a project to participants, partners, science, and society.