Community science for coastal acidification monitoring and research

© The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Gassett, P. R., O’Brien-Clayton, K., Bastidas, C., Rheuban, J. E., Hunt, C., Turner, E., Liebman, M., Silva, E., Pimenta, A., Grear, J., Motyka, J., McCorkle, D., Stancioff, E., Brady, D., & Strong, A. Community science for coastal acidification monitoring and research. Coastal Management, 49(5), (2021): 510-531, https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2021.1947131.Ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) present a unique set of sustainability challenges at the human-ecological interface. Extensive biogeochemical monitoring that can assess local acidification conditions, distinguish multiple drivers of changing carbonate chemistry, and ultimately inform local and regional response strategies is necessary for successful adaptation to OCA. However, the sampling frequency and cost-prohibitive scientific equipment needed to monitor OCA are barriers to implementing the widespread monitoring of dynamic coastal conditions. Here, we demonstrate through a case study that existing community-based water monitoring initiatives can help address these challenges and contribute to OCA science. We document how iterative, sequential outreach, workshop-based training, and coordinated monitoring activities through the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network (a) assessed the capacity of northeastern United States community science programs and (b) engaged community science programs productively with OCA monitoring efforts. Our results (along with the companion manuscript) indicate that community science programs are capable of collecting robust scientific information pertinent to OCA and are positioned to monitor in locations that would critically expand the coverage of current OCA research. Furthermore, engaging community stakeholders in OCA science and outreach enabled a platform for dialogue about OCA among other interrelated environmental concerns and fostered a series of co-benefits relating to public participation in resource and risk management. Activities in support of community science monitoring have an impact not only by increasing local understanding of OCA but also by promoting public education and community participation in potential adaptation measures.AGU Centennial Grant NOAA OAP OFFICE North American Association for Environmental Education Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation Sea Grant programs within the region Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions Funding acknowledgment: MIT Sea Grant award NA18OAR4170105 to Bastidas NERACOOS The WestWind foundation (to Rheuban) Woods Hole Sea Grant (NOAA Grant No. NA18OAR4170104

Ocean acidification information exchange: a community responding to ocean acidification through collaboration

Ocean and coastal acidification is a complex problem with a variety of concerned stakeholders working to understand its progression, its impacts on marine life and human communities, and how to adapt to or mitigate expected changes. The acidification community has recognized the value of a collaborative approach to addressing science, education, management, and policy responses to the issue, and individuals from the Salish Sea region have lead the nation in developing networks/working groups at a variety of geographic scales to foster this approach. The US Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification in collaboration with NERACOOS (Northeast Regional Association of IOOS) have launched a collaboration website to foster community interactions and advance efforts related to ocean and coastal acidification. This website provides anyone interested in acidification, from researchers and regulators to aquaculturists and resource managers, a better way to share resources, access up-to-date information, and interact across disciplines and regions. The heart of the website is interactive, self-forming “teams” that use the website’s collaboration tools to focus on specific topics. Teams can share resources via the website and engage in online discussions, and team activities will serve as a way to advance science efforts related to acidification, enhance stakeholder interactions, and share and grow knowledge. We invite those from the Salish Sea ecoregion to join this online community focused on ocean acidification, and will use this presentation to demonstrate the sites capabilities and help new users understand how the website can aid their work

Impact of Let\u27s Go! 5-2-1-0: a community-based, multisetting childhood obesity prevention program.

OBJECTIVE: Document the impact of Let\u27s Go!, a multisetting community-based childhood obesity prevention program on participants in 12 communities in Maine. METHODS: The study used repeated random telephone surveys with 800 parents of children to measure awareness of messages and child behaviors. Surveys were conducted in schools, child care programs, and afterschool programs to track changes in policies and environments. RESULTS: Findings show improvements from 2007 to 2011: Children consuming fruits and vegetables increased from 18%, 95% CI [15, 21], to 26% [23, 30] (p \u3c .001); children limiting sugary drinks increased from 63% [59, 67] to 69% [65, 73] (p = .011); and parent awareness of the program grew from 10% [7, 12] to 47% [43, 51] (p \u3c .001). Participating sites implemented widespread changes to promote healthy behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: A multisetting, community-based intervention with a consistent message can positively impact behaviors that lead to childhood obesity