Virtual Open Space Conference:
Informal/Formal Partnerships to
Survive the Impacts of COVID-19, Promote Equity, and
Keep Science & Environmental Literacy Alive

July 28th-29th, 10:00am-1:30pm PST | 1:00pm-4:30pm EST

View the Schedule and Session Information

This conference is free to attend. Please register in advance.

The BEETLES and BaySci projects have hosted virtual “open space” conferences on the devastating impact of COVID-19 on both formal and informal science and environmental education. Recognizing the intersections and synergies across these two fields, our next "Open Space" conference will support these conversations. In the spirit of open space, the content of the conference is determined by attendees. All attendees are invited to hold discussions on the topics of their choosing. At this conference, attendees are particularly invited (but not limited) to propose discussions and thinking around informal/formal partnerships.

The survival of many environmental education organizations is immediately threatened, while districts and schools are struggling to find equitable pathways to re-open that accommodate physical distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines. We believe that partnerships between these fields can overcome the huge challenges that both are facing while providing more equitable access to high-quality learning for all students, particularly students in low-income communities and communities of color that disproportionately bear the burden of COVID-19 impacts. Can schools use the outdoors to increase the space available for bringing students safely back in the fall? Can environmental education leaders redeploy instructors to allow more small groups of students to learn outdoors at schools and in neighborhoods?

In order to participate:

  1. Register.

  2. Review the resources on participating, including the guiding principles for Open Space and the Tips for a Good Conversation.

  3. Review the official schedule. Join any sessions you feel like joining by clicking the meeting links for each session.

  4. Use the Padlet to share notes.

  5. Complete the feedback survey to tell us about your experience.


**Closed captioning is available upon request. If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Emma Duran-Forbes at edf@berkeley.edu or 510-642-2275 with as much advance notice as possible and at least before July 17th, 2020.**