Joining collective impact and community science: a framework for core collaborative community science

Abstract

We propose the core collaborative community science framework, an original conceptual framework that integrates and modifies best practices from community science and collective impact groups to support investigations of environmental health and justice. The core collaborative community science framework differs from more typical frameworks for community science, which often frame projects as static and either scientist or community led; these framings can limit the potential for co-production and action-oriented models of science. Frameworks are lacking to help community science collaborators determine the contributions and leadership needed to initiate, sustain, and link together multiple projects that jointly support local learning and action, as well as contribute to broader scientific knowledge of complex social-ecological systems. The core collaborative community science framework offers three main innovations and contributions: (1) It invests in a core collaborative group structure, designed to increase community capacity and resilience through an expanded network of partners dedicated to the reduction of systematic inequities and injustices; (2) It seeds and supports multiple, diverse research projects implemented across complex social-ecological systems, focusing first on community-identified needs, and then on the questions community science can help answer; and (3) It facilitates dynamic shared responsibilities and leadership for partners from community, research, and government institutions, recognizing the need for shared contributions at all project phases. We offer examples from the Green Duwamish Learning Landscape in Washington, USA to show how project partners have coordinated their work focused on social, ecological, and human health and navigated challenges related to funding, staffing, and governance. We share insights on how to help integrate community science within the social fabric of communities, especially those faced with environmental health and justice challenges.