Through an interactive panel discussion, we’ll examine community-scientist collaborations during New Orleans’ reconstruction following Hurricane Katrina. Panelists representing diverse perspectives  (e.g., public health, global change science, engineering/public works, policy, advocacy) from New Orleans and other recovery efforts will share their experiences and recommendations for building and strengthening stakeholder partnerships.  They’ll highlight challenges posed by power dynamics, funding constraints, communication barriers, and alignment of disparate interests.

Participants will then work in focus groups to share their experiences, best practices and other resources, and begin developing plans to implement in their own communities. Specifically, focus groups will (1) facilitate networking; (2) clarify the roles scientists, community members, and policy-makers should play in collaborating, (3) identify impediments to the development and use of research for the public good; and (4) create feasible strategies for funding applied research that directly benefits impacted communities. This workshop furthers our goal of compiling and developing a best practices resource guide for ecologists-community partnerships. Participants will be invited to join an ongoing network of continued dialogue, support, and sharing of best practices.