Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement

The Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement (CSCCE) is a research and training center to support and study the emerging field of scientific community engagement.

Scientific community engagement, also known as community management, refers to the human infrastructure that is necessary to support healthy and productive STEM communities. These roles include a range of job titles – from community manager, program manager, and network engagement manager to assistant director of a research center. In all cases, the purpose of community engagement is to connect and empower members to work together towards a common goal.

The goal and focus areas of the Center

The goal of CSCCE is to professionalize and institutionalize the role of the community engagement manager within science. All of our activities are in service of this.

Underpinned by an ethos of collaborative, evidence-based activities and the development of network-centric leaders, CSCCE has three focus areas:

Cohort-based learning

Multi-format training options and a community of practice to support scientific community professionals through the creation of shared language and mental models, group reflection, and peer support.

Consultancy and Resources

The development of trusted resources for individuals and organizations working to build or fund scientific networks and communities, and the provision of responsive, contextualized consultancy.

Research

Research to better characterize and support the emerging role of the scientific community engagement manager – including through collaborations with others.

These three areas are tightly interlinked – with the research informing training materials and organizational feedback signposting future areas for research and/or curriculum development.

Upcoming training courses

The digital badge image for Scientific Community Engagement Fundamentals (CEF) is a purple circle with a white center. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS is spelled out in white, over the top of the purple circle, and a purple umbel design is overlaid in the white center. At the bottom right, on the outside of the circle, it says “CSCCE Training Course” in two shades of teal.

Scientific Community Engagement Fundamentals (CEF)

CSCCE’s foundational training for community managers in STEM.

Next cohort begins: 12 September 2024

The digital badge image for Content Design (CODE) is a magenta circle with a white center. CONTENT DESIGN is spelled out in white, over the top of the magenta circle, and a magenta umbel design is overlaid in the white center. At the bottom right, on the outside of the circle, it says “CSCCE Training Course” in two shades of teal.

Content Design (CODE)

Explore a strategic approach to designing and creating community-engaged content that energizes and inspires your community members.

Next cohort begins: 17 September 2024

The digital badge image for Creating Community Playbooks (PBK) is a mint green circle with a white center. “PLAYBOOKS” spelled out in white, over the top of the mint green circle, and a mint green umbel design is overlaid in the white center. At the bottom right, on the outside of the circle, it says “CSCCE Training Course” in two shades of teal.

Creating Community Playbooks (PBK)

Create core documentation for your community in collaboration with CSCCE staff and your STEM community manager colleagues.

Next cohort begins: 15 July 2024

The CSCCE Certified Community Manager digital rosette. It is made up of a dark blue circle with an umbel flower motif in the center, and a lighter blue ribbon descending from the bottom of the circle. The words “CERTIFIED COMMUNITY MANAGER” are spelled out in white on the dark blue circle, and “CSCCE” appears on the lighter blue ribbon.

Community Manager Certification Program

Deepen your expertise in core community management skills – including content creation, facilitation, and knowledge management.

Next cohort begins: 18 March 2024

Get started with CSCCE

There are multiple ways to engage with CSCCE, our vibrant community of scientific community professionals, and the resources we have published.

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

We host a community of practice of more than 600 scientific community professionals from around the world with programming including a monthly community call.

EXPLORE OUR RESOURCES

We’ve published more than 100 free resources, which have been downloaded more than 40,000 times.

Check out our three-part guidebook on the Community Participation Model:

Download our four-part virtual events guidebook:

Review what other scientific communities look like:

Explore scientific community manager roles:

Take a training

CSCCE offers a range of training options to support scientific community professionals. Enrollment is currently open for:

Mini-workshops

Standalone, 90-120 minute events.

CSCCE Mini-workshop descriptions

Courses

6-8 week online, cohort-based trainings. Registration is currently open for:

Certification

Our flagship, advanced training taking up to two years to complete.