CC-PES Phase 1 Report

The Co-Created Public Engagement with Science Project (CC-PES) led by the Museum of Science seeks to build capacity among museums and other informal science education (ISE) institutions to develop and implement co-created public engagement with science activities. The heart of the CC-PES model is involving community and civic representatives as co-creators of dialog programs that address important socio-scientific questions, and then finding a way to turn community input into action.

In Phase 1 of the project, teams in Boston and Portland piloted the CC-PES model. In Boston, the Museum of Science, the Urban College of Boston, and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics teamed up to address housing development in Boston. While COVID-19 pandemic forced the team to pivot to hosting an online and asynchronous forum discussion, their experience has important lessons for museums seeking to co-create programs with civic and community partners. In Portland, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry teamed up with Metro (a regional governance organization in the Portland area), and Momentum Alliance, a community organization serving youth of diverse backgrounds. This team ultimately designed a forum on the topic of climate change and corporate responsibility.

Through their work, the Phase 1 teams provided much food for thought regarding the CC-PES model and how best to form and nurture relationships that support co-creation amongst different partner organizations. This report summarizes lessons learned through ongoing process interviews with members of the project teams.