CivicSciTV - Perspective
How Dr. Ryan Sinclair studies environmental exposure alongside community scientists at Salton Sea
In this episode of CivicSciTV’s “The Perspective,” host Diya Dwarakanath explores community science research and environmental justice with Dr. Ryan Sinclair, environmental microbiology professor at Loma Linda University in California.
They begin by discussing Prof. Sinclair’s motivation behind community science and the challenges of re-thinking the research question for an academic scientist. They cover his “starter” study on shoreline mapping at Salton Sea with data collected by community members, and additional studies underway on water quality and hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor).
Prof. Sinclair shares community-led success stories and policy wins by working with agencies. He shares actionable advice on working with community partners, like Alianza CV, and engaging youth. “Alianza is forming the narrative and proposing how they want their future to look. And we’re going right along with that and trying to do the [related] science.”
“Instead of standing back and responding, eventually you get to the point where you’re trying to lead, and I think that’s the true success for community science,” noted Prof. Sinclair.
It ends with what’s next and the long-term impact of community science. Prof. Sinclair says, “Salton Sea is a really good case study for how to work with the community. I’ve spent over 10 years working with them and you see people you meet in high school and now they’re leaders! They’re working in agencies, non-profits, university labs.”
Ryan Sinclair
Chapters
0:00 CivicSciTV Intro
0:20 Program Overview
1:19 Exposure science
3:34 Theory of change
5:00 Challenge of centering research
6:52 Community-driven research
8:00 Surprising lessons learned
10:55 How collaboration worked
12:27 Alianza partnership
16:00 Fun challenges
17:35 Actionable advice
18:49 Policy wins, filling gaps
20:00 Youth advocacy at agencies
22:40 Community-led solutions
23:54 Value of community science
26:46 Unanswered questions, future hope
Diya is an independent science and engineering journalist. She writes opinion-editorials, blogs, explainers, and feature articles on various topics. Based in Portland, Oregon, Diya is an insightful writer with "a minimalist approach and an eye for detail," said a professional writing colleague. Her unique skillset is combining her subject matter expertise with her interest in furthering science and engineering communication with the public.
The CS Media Lab is a Boston-anchored civic science news collective with local, national and global coverage on TV, digital print, and radio through CivicSciTV, CivicSciTimes, and CivicSciRadio. Programs include Questions of the Day, Changemakers, QuickTake, Consider This Next, Stories in Science, Sai Resident Collective and more.
-
CS Media Labhttps://civicsciencemedia.org/author/mlab/
Ecosystem building in action: Science Talk 2025 and the dynamic civic science conference landscape
New survey explores what people in South Africa expect of publicly visible scientists – why it matters
Aquatic ecologist & Scicomm In Practice Fellow, Fridolin Ubald Dossou-Sognon, shares his experience
Here are the sights and sounds from the Stand Up for Science rally in Boston on March 7, 2025
Earthwise Aware in Boston is creating a space for dialogue and collaboration between scientists, naturalists, and nature-lovers. Founder Claire O’Neill explains.
Examining science and art collaborations through a social psychology lens reveals the need for third spaces
ScienceWriters2025 conference is actively seeking new venues, sponsors, and partners. Read their statement to explore ways to help.
Part time bartender & scientist, JP Flores, talks about new funding to support a community engagement project in North Carolina
Aquatic ecologist & Scicomm In Practice Fellow, Fridolin Ubald Dossou-Sognon, shares his experience
Here are the sights and sounds from the Stand Up for Science rally in Boston on March 7, 2025
Decoding Kate the Chemist’s role as professor for the public understanding of science at Notre Dame
Christine O’Connell of Riley’s Way Foundation shares a 2 year progress update on the Call For Kindness
-
Civic Science Times3 weeks agoEarthwise Aware in Boston is creating a space for dialogue and collaboration between scientists, naturalists, and nature-lovers. Founder Claire O’Neill explains.
-
Civic Science Times2 weeks ago
Examining science and art collaborations through a social psychology lens reveals the need for third spaces
-
Civic Science Times2 weeks ago
ScienceWriters2025 conference is actively seeking new venues, sponsors, and partners. Read their statement to explore ways to help.
-
CivicSciTV - Questions of the Day2 weeks ago
Part time bartender & scientist, JP Flores, talks about new funding to support a community engagement project in North Carolina
