Academy Chats

July 2025 - Public Engagement to Inspire Curiosity and Understanding


Academy Chat: National Opioid Settlements
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 3:30-5pm ET

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from real-world examples of science-policy engagement and explore how your organization can contribute to evidence-informed policymaking.

Links and references:

• SEAN - NASEM Academy Chat Presentation
• Contact Info for Follow-Up:
  • 1^st Presentation (CORE-NC): opioidsettlement@unc.edu
  • 2^nd Presentation (NCACC/OSTAT): opioidsettlement@ncacc.org
  • 3^rd Presentation (NC IOM): amanda_dale@nciom.org
• Community Opioid Resources Engine for North Carolina (CORE-NC)
• UNC Injury Prevention Research Center
• NC mandated Reporting for the Opioid Settlements
• Repository of all submitted reports from NC local governments so far
• View all available data displays
• Local Progress Data Display (All-in-one place view per local government)
• NC Collaboratory 
• View Funded Projects
• NC Association of County Commissioners
• NCACC Opioid Settlements Technical Assistance Team (OSTAT)
• High Impact Strategies in the NC MOA
• NC Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan
• NC Overdose Epidemic Data
• NCIOM
• Practical Considerations for North Carolina’s Community Leaders: The Challenges, Opportunities, and Transformative Potential of Opioid Settlement Funds (2021-2023)
• More information on the 15% state spending so far
• Qualitative Data (Narratives for Opioid Settlements) 
• Opioid Settlement Tracker (national view)
• More legal info from the national opioid settlements directly
• Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission
• One Ohio Recovery Foundation
• Connecticut Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
• Legal and Technical Notes

Academy Chat: Evidence-Informed Policy Engagement

Join us for a discussion on how the Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (EPI Center) at AAAS can support and collaborate with state academies. This session will explore how the EPI Center connects decision-makers with clear, nonpartisan scientific evidence on pressing public issues and how state academies can leverage these resources to inform policy and practice at the state and local levels.

We’ll also examine how state academies can contribute their expertise, regional insights, and research to enhance the EPI Center’s efforts in bridging science and policy. This conversation will provide an opportunity to share ideas, identify collaboration opportunities, and strengthen the connection between national and state-level scientific engagement in public issues.

Join us to learn more, ask questions, and explore how we can work together to advance the use of scientific evidence in decision-making!

Information Session: Strategic Planning Grants for Academies

Academy Chat: Academies Engaging Community
Friday, January 31, 2025 | 3:30-5pm ET

The National Association for Academies of Science (NAAS) will host its January Academy Chat on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 3:30 PM ET. Greetchen Díaz-Muñoz will share Ciencia Puerto Rico’s community engagement and education programs. Eve Klein will share resources from the Association of Science & Technology Centers (ASTC) will talk about community science initiatives. Many Academies have community engagement as part of their mission, but this is a less frequent topic highlighted through our Academy Chats. 

During this Academy Chat, participants will engage in a discussion about community engagement that will include sharing opportunities and challenges that come up with your own programming. All academies are invited to join this informative and interactive session to explore how other states engage and produce materials for educational and community engagement programs.

Watch Recording

Academy Chat: Annual Meetings
Friday, December 13, 2024 | 3:30-5pm ET

The National Association for Academies of Science (NAAS) will host its December Academy Chat on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 3:30 PM ET. This session will be co-facilitated by Amanda Fuller (Kentucky) and Kerri Schnase-Berge (Nebraska) and will focus on using annual meetings to strengthen science in our respective states. During this Academy Chat, participants will engage in a discussion about annual meetings that will include sharing opportunities and challenges that come up with your own programming. All academies are invited to join this informative session to explore how other states run their annual meetings.

Watch Recording

 

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Academy Chat: AAAS and the STEMM Opportunity Alliance
Friday, November 15, 2024 | 3:30-5pm ET

The National Association for Academies of Science (NAAS) will host its November Academy Chat on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 3:30 PM ET. This session will feature Michael Feder, Program Director and Stephanie Rodriguez, Deputy Director, who will discuss the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA). The SOA is a nationwide initiative committed to expanding and diversifying the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) workforce by 2050.

During this Academy Chat, participants will learn about the SOA's mission, its recently released National Strategy for STEMM Equity and Excellence, and how it aims to help 20 million people from historically excluded and marginalized communities enter and thrive in STEMM fields. Michael and Stephanie will provide insights into the alliance's goals, strategies, and ongoing initiatives.

All academies are invited to join this informative session to explore how the STEMM Opportunity Alliance's efforts align with their own diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the state level. This chat offers an excellent opportunity for academies to share their experiences, discuss challenges, and explore potential collaborations to support DEI in STEMM across their respective states.

Register

Academy Chat: Governance Part 3: Transparency & Longevity
Recordkeeping, Archiving, Software

POSTPONED  - originally scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2024 | 3:30-5pm ET

How do we preserve the history of our organizations, and ensure that we are keeping good records today? We'll hear about some solutions from Academy leaders and others.

Academy Chat: Governance Structures Part 2- Financial management, administrative basics, staffing models

Friday, August 23, 2024 | 3:30-5pm ET 

The goal of this governance series of academy chats, proposed by the NAAS Governance Committee, is to focus on the governance structures underlying state and regional academies of science. Each academy is differently structured and through these differences comes the opportunity to learn from one another.  
In August, we'll hear from leaders at the Florida Academy and the Wisconsin Academy, and dig into Operations. This will be a valuable conversation whether you have staff or not.  Join the conversation.

Academy Chat: Governance Structures Part 1 - Essential Responsibilities and Secrets of Success for Board Members 

Friday July 19th, 2024, | 3:30-5pm ET 
 
The goal of this governance series of academy chats, proposed by the NAAS Governance Committee, is to focus on the governance structures underlying state and regional academies of science. Each academy is differently structured and through these differences comes the opportunity to learn from one another.  

As part of the first chat of this series, we will focus on how governing boards can be structured and how the board structure may be different depending on the underlying organizational structure. Academies are encouraged to discuss challenges faced by your organization in relation to working with or establishing a board of directors. The hope is that these conversations will assist with identification of where we can work together to overcome challenges and what resources may be helpful in establishing resilient structures                                                                                                                                                       

Watch Recording

Junior Academies of Science - Delegate Selection and Funding Process

Friday June 28, 2024, | 3:30-5pm ET

The American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) mission is to introduce, encourage, and accelerate pre-college students into the professional world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Each year, NAAS hosts the AJAS Annual Conference in conjunction with the AAAS Annual Meeting. AJAS delegates are selected by each state’s academy of science through a unique process to that state or academy of science. In many cases, the Academy of Science organizes a Junior Academy of Science and under the direction of that academy, a statewide scientific research competition is held.

This Academy Chat conversation will focus on the process of AJAS delegate selection. We invite academies that are attending this event to prepare a short (2-3 minute) description of the process in their state or region. This conversation will be facilitated by Donna Riordan, the current President of NAAS and Executive Director of the Washington State Academy of Sciences. Attendees will take away a better understanding of the AJAS process in other states and how NAAS coordinates this process to ensure students are supported to attend the annual conference.

Science & Technology Policy Fellowships in States
Friday May 17, 2024 | 3pm ET

Watch Recording
 

Science Policy and Academies of Science

Friday, January 26, 2024 | 4:00pm EST

Science policy is increasing as a career pathway and area for professional development among scientists of all expertise. Thus, the academies of science have an opportunity to engage with this topic through members. Some state academies of science are already engaging in this topic. 

In this webinar, learn about science policy and hear from Washington State Academy of Science (WSAS) and Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) about their science policy programs and initiatives. We invite conversation surrounding academies at all levels of engagement with science policy!

Watch Recording

Grow Revenue with Affiliate Members
Friday, December 8, 2023 | 3:00pm EST

Join speakers from the Kentucky Academy of Science and The Ohio Academy of Science to learn about how they have used an affiliate membership model to grow their membership and revenue.

Watch Recording

Teens Aged 13-17 Create Innovative Solutions to Society’s Toughest Challenges

The New York Junior Academy's project-based learning program for students is creating solutions
to real-world issues. Students in the program are invited to participate in 10-week challenges which take place
twice a year. During these challenges students form international teams and work with STEM experts who
mentor them as they design solutions.

Application Form  |     Parental Consent Form  |   Flyer   |   Fall 2023 Timeline






Volunteer Training and Engagement
December 9, 2022 | 3:30-5:00 pm EDT
In the recent strategic planning process, NAAS leaders identified 'Dedication' as one of the core values of the organization. NAAS volunteers, leaders, and staff exude passion, motivation, and dedication in everything that they do. Join academies to discuss how to foster great volunteer engagement for your organization and junior academy. 


Watch Recording



 

Creative Fundraising for Academies of Science
October 14, 2022 | 3:30-5:00 pm EDT
No two academies of science function in the same way, and the annual budgets of academies vary widely from less than $1,000 to more than $1 million. To meet financial needs, academies raise money in a variety of ways, from member dues to endowments, programs funds, and annual meeting revenue.

In this Academy Chat, academies are invited to share the creative ways that they earn funding for their organizations. Specifically, we will focus in on non-member revenue and ways that academies can keep membership affordable and accessible for diverse scientists and scholars.

Resources
Rob Weber's Notes
John Nemeth's Notes
Creative Fundraising Notes

Watch Recording

 

Supporting Junior Academies of Science
September 16, 2022 | 3:30-5:00 pm EDT
One of the key functions of the National Association of Academies of Science (NAAS) is to support the American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS). Additionally, in a recent survey of state and regional academies, 80% of host both a senior academy and junior academy. The September 2022 Academy Chat will focus on how to support junior academies of science across the country who do the boots-on-the-ground outreach to students interested in STEM and funnel students to the AJAS meeting each year. 

During this Academy Chat, Gary Foss of the Washington State Academy of Science shared insights on how they support students to attend AJAS. View his slides here.


 

Strategic Plan Roundtable
August 5, 2022 | 3:30-5:00 pm EDT
Over the past 6 months, a strategic plan was created to help organize the vision for the future of NAAS. Through the process, NAAS leadership developed new guiding principles and strategic priorities for the next 3-5 years. In this Academy Chat, NAAS leaders will share their experience with this process and take feedback from participants on NAAS goals moving forward. Donna Gerardi Riordan will speak on behalf of the NAAS Governance Committee who proposed strategic planning for the organization. Then Rachel Owen, strategic plan facilitator, will talk about how strategic planning was conducted. Finally, Amanda Fuller, NAAS President, will talk about the findings of the strategic plan and the goals for the next 3-5 years. 

Watch Recording
 

How to Have a Great Annual Meeting
May 4, 2022, 3:30-5:00 pm EDT

This webinar featured Sara Pichette from the New Mexico Academy of Science, Jack Shelley-Tremblay from the Alabama Academy of Science, and Delores Brown from the Indiana Academy of Science. Each speaker shared their best practices and tips for hosting an effective annual meeting.

AAAS Programs You Should Know About
November 19, 2021
Details    |    Watch the Recording
How can state academies benefit from AAAS programs? We heard from

• Suzanne Thurston about Inclusive STEM Ecosystems for Equity & Diversity (ISEED) and AAAS fellowships
• Kelly O'Brien about AAAS Honorary Fellows
• Dan Barry about Local Science Engagement Network (LSEN)  |  LSEN Slide Presentation
• Beth Ruedi about SEA Change program (STEMM Equity Achievement)
• And of course, we told you why you should be a AAAS member

Journal Editors' Convening
September 17, 2021, 3:30-5pm ET
Details   |   Watch the Recording   |  Resources & Notes  |  JAAS Presentation  |   TNAS Presentation

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion for Academies of Science
August 13, 2021, 3:30-5pm ET  
Details   |   Watch the Recording   |    Sara Gomez' Presentation

Fundraising for Academies of Science
July 9, 2021, 3:30-5pm ET 
Details   |  Watch the Recording   |    Fundraising Resources for Academies


Dipping into State Science Policy
July 8, 2021, 4:00-5:30pm ET.  
Details  |   Watch the Recording   |  Terri Clark's Presentation

Growing, Managing and Engaging State Academy Membership
June 11, 2021
(Science can be in tents >> Oklahoma Academy of Science's field meeting)
Watch the Recording