A cohort-based professional learning opportunity for NERRS staff who are new to collaborative science or the reserve system
At a glance:
| Who | 1 staff participant per reserve |
|---|---|
| Funding | $1,500 + travel support for cohort kick-off meeting |
| Duration | March - December 2026 |
Essential details:
- Build foundational skills needed for the earliest stages of collaborative science
- Connect with fellow cohort members from across the NERRS
- Apply learning to your reserve's context and needs
- Receive tailored support from Science Collaborative facilitators
Learn more:
The NERRS Science Collaborative is offering a professional learning opportunity to bring together NERRS staff from across the System who are new to collaborative science. The opportunity will be cohort-based and grounded in applied learning with an emphasis on peer interaction as well as individual activities at participants’ respective reserves. Participants will integrate their learning with their role at their reserve by using their current reserve work as the foundation for their skills-building.
Learning themes:
This opportunity is meant for those who want to strengthen their skills to engage in the earliest stages of collaborative science project development. The opportunity will cover the following topics and skills:
- Collaborative science objectives, mindset and principles. Introduction to collaborative science, the significance of context and reserve priorities, the essence of a collaborative science mindset, and guiding principles.
- Relationship building. The types of relationships that provide foundation for collaborative science, identifying and connecting with new and existing partners, learning about partners’ priorities, and engaging meaningfully.
- Collaborative process design. The bricks and mortar of a collaborative science process that help foster shared understanding, facilitate knowledge exchange, and enable useful products.
Grounded in applied learning, the cohort will provide a space for participants to explore these themes in their own contexts. Participants will choose a management / knowledge exchange need specific to their reserve to guide their learning and do the following:
- Hold conversations with colleagues to learn about collaborative science at their reserve
- Conduct background research on their selected management need
- Learn about their reserve’s existing relationships with partners
- Get to know the priorities of new or existing partners
- Plan or initiate a conversation with potential partner(s)
- Peer-to-peer learning workshops with fellow cohort participants
- Tailored support from Science Collaborative facilitators
- Travel support to attend the May in-person workshop
- Up to $1,500 to reimburse costs of independent learning activities and / or to support participant time
- Attending a 1 hour virtual intro to the cohort
- Attending an in-person cohort gathering in Ann Arbor, Michigan (1.5 days)
- Participating in 2 virtual workshops (90 min each)
- Meeting with a Science Collaborative facilitator (1 hour, plus additional time as needed)
- Completing independent learning activities at reserve (~5 hours per month, asynchronous)
- March 6, 2026: Extended deadline for registrations
- Week of March 2, 2026: Participants confirmed by an email notification from the Science Collaborative.
- March 12, 2026, 3-4 pm ET: Virtual cohort welcome and introduction
- March-April 2026: Independent learning activities at reserve
- May 13-14 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan: Participants attend an in-person gathering to advance learning and support peer exchange
- May-June 2026: Independent learning activities at reserve
- June 25, 2026, 3-4:30 pm ET: Workshop on designing a collaborative process
- July-September 2026: Independent learning activities at reserve
- October/November 2026, date TBD, 3-4:30 pm ET: Workshop on navigating challenges + cohort wrap-up
How to secure your reserve's spot
Every reserve is guaranteed one spot for a staff member's participation. Each reserve may advance just one individual to secure this spot. It is up to each reserve to identify the individual who will participate. If you are interested in this opportunity, please discuss it with your reserve manager and follow the steps in the Registration Guidance to confirm your participation.
Contact
Questions about this funding opportunity can be directed to:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Arianna Stokes (734-763-0056)