Building equitable engagement: Strategies for enhancing diverse engagement in participatory science

Abstract

Co-created participatory science offers an innovative approach to engaging diverse communities in scientific research, challenging traditional top-down approaches to science, and fostering meaningful collaborations between scientists and volunteers. However, despite the growth of participatory science programs, participation remains largely homogenous in the United States, with underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities. This manuscript explores the facilitators and constraints to BIPOC participation in participatory science. We also utilize an asset-based framework, community cultural wealth (CCW), in novel applications to understand persistence in engagement while recognizing the systemic barriers that still exist. Through online focus groups with BIPOC-serving program practitioners and BIPOC participants, we identified key factors encouraging BIPOC participation, such as community-oriented and -led programs and opportunities to build and share knowledge and expertise, highlighting the role of CCW. Despite interest, persistent barriers included the perception of outdoor spaces as White-dominated, financial constraints, and discrimination. We recommend adopting a co-created research approach, tailoring programs to meet community needs, and investing in long-term, sustainable engagement strategies to support BIPOC communities in participatory science. This research underscores the importance of centering community voices, intersectionality, and persistent efforts in fostering equity within science institutions.