Case Studies in Advancing Community Priorities Through Museum-Community Participatory Science Partnerships

Community engagement is central to both museum work and citizen science practice. However, both the museum field and the citizen science field have received calls to reexamine the purpose and function of community engagement in order to evolve from transactional relationships toward co-creative partnerships driven by the strengths, priorities, and needs of those communities. Community science—a collaborative approach that leverages scientific research and innovation to address community priorities—builds on the strengths of museums and citizen science practice while responding to this call for deeper partnership. This article features three museum-community partnerships as case studies for the application and impact of community science. Wide-ranging projects address community priorities related to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI); food access and climate change; and Indigenous youth leadership in community-led conservation. Drawing on direct co-author experience, with support from formal evaluation, project teams share broadly applicable lessons about community science in practice. Key takeaways include: dedicated time builds strong, equitable partnerships; shared leadership requires intentionality and trust; success requires matching scope to resources; and flexible, trust-based philanthropy is critical.