How to Get Involved
Explore how you can join the TOPSTSCHOOL team as an SME or Open Science participant and contribute to advancing inclusive & accessible science education.
Akshay Mestry
Open Source Maintainer
We’re excited that you’re interested in joining our mission to make scientific learning and research more accessible, inclusive, and impactful through the principles of Open Science. There are several meaningful ways to get involved, whether you’re a seasoned researcher, an educator, or someone passionate about fostering collaboration and innovation in science education. Joining our team means becoming part of a global effort to empower students and researchers while shaping the future of learning modules across critical thematic areas.
Here’s how you can contribute:
Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Are you a researcher with expertise in one of our project’s thematic areas? We’re looking for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to join our advisory committee and lend their knowledge and guidance to the development of our learning modules.
As an SME, your role will include:
Providing Expert Insights. Help shape the content of our modules by applying your deep knowledge of thematic areas such as Water, Health and Air Quality, Environmental Justice, Disasters, Wildfires, Agriculture, and Climate.
Participating in Workshops. Join hybrid-format workshops and focused short sprints where we collaboratively develop module content.
Driving Open Science Practices. Support the integration of Open Science principles into our resources to make them transparent, reusable, and impactful.
We’re particularly interested in researchers passionate about inclusive pedagogy, who can contribute to creating accessible and engaging resources for diverse audiences. To express your interest or learn more, please complete the SME Google Form or contact us via email: TOPSTSCHOOL@ciesin.columbia.edu.
Your expertise will help us build transformative learning tools that make a lasting impact.
Join the Open Science Team
Are you passionate about the values of Open Science and eager to contribute to the design of learning modules that embody these principles? Consider joining our Open Science Team, where you’ll play a key role in shaping modules that emphasize FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and Ethics principles.
As a participant, you’ll:
Engage in Collaborative Workshops. Participate in workshops and short sprints, working alongside educators, researchers, and other team members to develop engaging and impactful module content.
Provide Feedback. Contribute your insights during remote participation meetings to ensure our resources meet the needs of diverse learners.
Support Inclusive Pedagogy. Help design modules that foster learning for all, with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility.
To join the Open Science Team or learn more, please complete the Participant Google Form or contact us via email: TOPSTSCHOOL@ciesin.columbia.edu.
We value your perspectives and are excited to collaborate with you to promote a more open and collaborative approach to science education.
Why Join Us?
By contributing to the SCHOOL Project, you’ll be part of a vibrant community dedicated to breaking down barriers in science education. Your involvement will help:
Empower learners by creating accessible, high-quality educational resources.
Advance the mission of Open Science, ensuring that knowledge is freely available and beneficial to all.
Foster a culture of collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges.
Whether you’re an experienced researcher, an educator, or a science enthusiast, there’s a place for you in our community. Let’s work together to make science education open, inclusive, and impactful.