The goal of this program is to empower AEESP members to share their knowledge with each other, learn together, and develop outputs/products on a specific topic of interest through regular, small-group meetings.
Communities are expected to include 8-12 members with a gradient of knowledge on a topic related to AEESP’s mission. Students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and all other AEESP members have already been pre-approved to form or join a Community!
What topics are covered
You can establish a new Community of Practice on any topic related to the mission of AEESP. You do not need to be an expert on the topic, and you are welcome to join multiple Communities. All you need to do is bring your interest and ideas! What do you care about? What knowledge or experience do you want to share with our Association? What do you want to learn from other members? How do you want to make AEESP an even better place? If you have an interest in pursuing these questions with other AEESP members, please submit an application – don’t worry, we’ll help populate your Community.
The outputs/products can take different forms (e.g., short reports, instructional videos, educational materials, social media campaigns, etc.) and will be shared with the greater AEESP community. Some products may be related to the work of our standing committees and could therefore lead to new Association-level initiatives in the future!
How to get involved
Submit an application to form or join a Community.
Contact us
Please email Lee Blaney, José Cerrato, or Randi Brazeau with questions.
Current Communities of Practice:
AEESP Community of Practice: Grantastic!
(led by Syeed Iskander, North Dakota State University)
This collaborative space is designed to empower environmental engineering and science researchers and professionals in their pursuit of grant funding. Through shared knowledge, practical strategies, and peer support, Grantastic aims to make the grant writing process more approachable, less intimidating, and yes—fantastic! Whether you’re an early-career scholar or a seasoned PI, this is your place to find resources, camaraderie, and encouragement. We'll share real talk, actionable advice, proposal tips, and the occasional well-timed meme. No gatekeeping. No judgment. Just one Grantastic submission at a time.
AEESP Community of Practice: Research Translation through WBE
(led by Tahmina Ahmed, University of Notre Dame)
This group will connect researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in translating WBE research into public health action. We will host periodic webinars, share resources, and explore collaborative opportunities.
Voices of AEESP Community of Practice
(led by Asad Bin Zaman, Kansas State University)
Our mission is simple but powerful: to promote the incredible work of AEESP researchers, spark public interest, and inspire more people to engage with environmental issues. By joining us, you will: connect with brilliant researchers; promote cutting-edge environmental research on social media; educate & engage the public on urgent environmental issues; and stay ahead of the latest sustainability breakthroughs. What you'll do as a volunteer: meet with the team once a month to plan and brainstorm creative campaigns; stay connected with the team through a dedicated chat app for seamless collaboration; engage directly with researchers to learn about their groundbreaking work; and bring research to life by designing eye-catching posters, producing engaging videos, and crafting compelling stories to share on social media.
AEESP Community of Practice: Teaching Engineering Design
(led by Susan Masten, Michigan State University)
The objective of this Community is to provide a forum for instructors of Capstone Design courses and other Design-Intensive courses to share best practices and course materials. For example, this could include design project handouts, rubrics, best practices for working with student teams and materials for ABET assessment, particularly Student Outcome 2: an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
AEESP Community of Practice: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
(led by Taeyoung Kim, Clarkson University)
In the S.o.S. Giants Community of Practice, AEESP members across all career stages come together and learn from our giants, who will share their life lessons, personal insights, and pivotal moments that shaped their journeys. Unlike technical seminars, this community is dedicated to creating a shared space that nurtures personal development, empathy, and intergenerational wisdom. The name S.o.S. is also inspired by the universal distress signal used when help is needed. We all need guidance from our giants!
The AEESP US-Brazil Collaborative: a Community of Practice
(led by Fernanda Cruz Rios, Drexel University)
This bilingual (Portuguese-English) initiative aims to foster mentorship, professional development, and meaningful international connections. In our first year, we will focus on the following activities: (1) building a database of Brazilian faculty and students in Brazil and the US, along with their contact information and areas of interest; (2) pairing Brazilian students currently studying in the US with prospective students in Brazil to provide peer guidance on academic pathways and promote collaboration; and (3) hosting virtual gatherings to bring together students, scholars, and potential collaborators for networking and sharing experiences. Over time, we hope to expand into additional activities, such as co-organized research projects, a resource lab, and more frequent events—guided by the interests and capacity of our community.
African Scholars AEESP Community of Practice
(led by Joseph Wasswa, The State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute)
This community aims to bring together African scholars, AEESP members with interests in Africa, and African institutions to foster collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. Our specific objectives are as follows: build a platform to share updates, opportunities, and activities relevant to African scholars and AEESP members; host sessions to guide prospective African students and scientists on graduate applications, funding, advisor interactions, and navigating life in the US; offer mentorship and career advice on academia, industry, and consulting opportunities for early-career scientists; create links between environmental scientists and engineers in Africa and those abroad, fostering collaborations and awareness of AEESP initiatives; and provide insights into African educational systems, cultural contexts, and institutional structures for US-based faculty and researchers, as well as facilitating collaborations with African institutions.
Early Career Faculty Survival Guide: an AEESP Community of Practice
(led by Jessica Ray, University of Washington)
There are many uncertainties and unknowns when beginning a new faculty position, which can be quite overwhelming. To support early career researchers, this Community of Practice seeks to provide a platform for crowdsourcing information and best practices from our community about how to survive in a rapidly evolving academic climate. At the 2025 AEESP meeting, we led a workshop outlining tips and strategies for managing time and resources, forming and mentoring a research group, finding (and firing) mentors, prioritizing promotable service, balancing teaching loads, setting boundaries for yourself, and many more issues facing new (or soon-to-be) faculty members. In addition to helping early career faculty, this Community of Practice may also be helpful for improved mentorship tips for those in academic leadership positions!
Invitation to join AEESP QUEERS Community of Practice
(led by Juliet Johnson, University of New Hampshire, Christopher Olivares Martinez, and Mira Chaplin, University of Michigan)
You're invited to join the new AEESP Community of Practice focused on LGBTQ+ community and inclusion- QUEERS (Queer Union of Environmental Engineers, Researchers, and Scientists). We are establishing this group to promote community connections by providing several virtual spaces for community, resources, questions, and guidance. During conferences we will offer several spaces for the community to connect in person. As the group grows, we anticipate building a collection of community resources and references such as "Identifying as LGBTQ+ in applications and grants", "Creating LGBTQ+ centric outreach", "The intersection of LGBTQ+ issues and Environmental Engineering" and "Finding LGBTQ+ mentors and support in Environmental Engineering."
We hope to have at least 3 virtual social events every year, and an increased presence at conferences.