2026 Collaborative Action Research Project: Applications Now Open!

APPLY NOW FOR THE COLLABORATIVE ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT!
  • teenager working on a science project outside

2026 Collaborative Action Research Project: Applications Now Open!

As part of the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST), the Smithsonian Science Education Center is assembling a group of students ages 14-19 to participate in a collaborative action research project! Through this virtual program, young people will meet weekly to explore this year’s topic, the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals Guide on Climate Resilience, and deepen their understanding of how it relates to them and their communities. In addition, they will engage with experts in the field and form research teams to produce an action project video that will be showcased at a final session in May 2026. As part of this showcase session, participating students will have the opportunity to share their work with experts in the field and to gather meaningful feedback and support from educators, Smithsonian staff, and their peers.  

The student program will run from February 4 to May 6, 2026, with sessions held on Wednesdays from 2:00-3:15 PM EST. Please note that after March 8, 2026, daylight savings time may shift international session times.    

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for high school or secondary school students who are dedicated to investigating local and global issues through a lens of science, motivated to take action, and willing to represent their communities in a global forum. We are seeking: 

  • High school/secondary students ages 14-19, who represent communities around the world.  

  • Participants must be proficient in both written and spoken English.  

  • Individuals who can commit to participating for 3 months from program start date (From February 4, 2026 – April 29, 2026), and who can attend the final showcase session virtually on May 6, 2026.   

  • Individuals who can dedicate roughly 2-3 hours per week to this project. All whole group meetings will take place via Zoom every Wednesday from 2:00-3:15 PM EST starting on February 4, 2026, and all content and tasks will be hosted on Moodle. 

How do you apply?

Apply by 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, using the following form:   

What are some benefits of participating?

  • The opportunity to network with professionals in many fields and gain additional knowledge about science, sustainability, and social issues.       

  • A certificate acknowledging your participation, your name listed on the Smithsonian Science Education Center website.   

  • The opportunity to engage and collaborate with other youth from around the world and to bring new ways of thinking and acting for a better future to your own community. In reflecting with the 2023 Sustainable Communities Collaborative Action Research Project cohort, one participant commented, “I liked how my team and the participants of the program came from different communities and cultures all around the world, but everyone was focused on one goal: making a change no matter how small.” 

Learn more about a previous project focused on Sustainable Communities here. For additional questions, contact Alexia Antunez at AntunezHernandezA@si.edu.