Last week, REEF Co-Executive Director Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens joined hundreds of experts, educators, and community leaders in Oregon for the 2025 Conference for Advancing the Participatory Sciences. This annual event brings together people from around the world who are passionate about involving the public in scientific research.
Christy participated in a wide range of sessions, featuring topics such as the ethical use of artificial intelligence, the role of zoos and aquariums in expanding conservation efforts, and the growing scientific impact of participatory research. She also had the chance to reconnect with colleagues, share updates on REEF programs, and even got to catch up with Stephanie Letourneau, a REEF Intern Alumna!
Stephanie interned with REEF in Summer 2020. Since then, she’s been active in the citizen science community: first with the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), and now with Wetlands Watch, where she helps coordinate "Catch the King,” a project that trains volunteers to gather data on coastal flooding during the highest seasonal tides, also known as king tides, in Virginia. We’re always thrilled to see former REEF interns making meaningful contributions in the field!
This conference was hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Participatory Sciences, formerly known as the Citizen Science Association. The organization recently adopted a more inclusive name to better reflect the diverse ways that communities and scientists work together. At REEF, we continue to describe our Volunteer Fish Survey Project and other programs as citizen science, a key part of the broader participatory sciences movement. To learn more about the name change and the mission of the association, visit this link.