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Using a Collective Impact Framework in SZ4D to Build Equity and Capacity With Geoscience

Description: 

The BECG integrative group has been working to identify strategic activities to capitalize on the assets of the SZ4D initiative (i.e., geohazards, international, instrumentation, multi-institutional). BECG recommended six primary areas to concentrate broader impacts efforts: 1) building capacity for international collaborative research, training, and data sharing; 2) promoting equity in hazard mitigation; 3) supporting evidence-based education and training; 4) increasing effectiveness of public outreach; 5) strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration; and 6) improving BAJEDI. The overarching goal is to transform the mindset of our geoscience community to embrace these efforts as critically important for successful science.

A traceability matrix was developed to determine critical needs for each area. Needs identified in multiple areas that should be targeted to enable accelerated progress included: a common agenda, development of assessment tools, establishing partnerships, and improved communication. BECG identified that a Collective Impact (CI) framework could meet these specific needs. CI was developed in social science as the commitment of a group of people from different disciplines to solving specific social problems using a structured form of collaboration. CI would help to ensure BECG activities have meaningful staying power and not as fleeting or discretized as traditional PI-focused broader impacts. Through discussions with the SZ4D community, BECG developed an implementation plan for building a CI framework to accomplish SZ4D science and capacity building goals. These priorities emerged: 1) developing partnerships with key communities, 2) shepherding communities of practice, 3) coordinating international capacity building, 4) strengthening training partnerships, and 5) matchmaking between PIs and BECG efforts. The matchmaking component has resonated as the highest priority such that the other priorities can be seen as key steps to ensure the matchmaking to be successful.

Session: Collective Impact in Earthquake Science

Type: Oral

Date: 4/18/2023

Presentation Time: 08:45 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Michael R. Brudzinski

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors