Three graduate students started the Actionable Community-Oriented Research eNgagement (ACORN) program in 2020 to create a pathway for partnering with communities in addressing climate-related challenges. This effort is now led by a PCC Graduate Steering Committee (P-GraSC) subcommittee with guidance from PCC leadership. The ACORN program was inspired by the AGU Thriving Earth Exchange, which centers community priorities and fosters a partnership between academics and local partners. Similarly, ACORN pairs graduate students and postdocs with a climate-focused and community-led project that could benefit from the scientists’ expertise. It allows academics to apply their skill sets to practical problems, leading to professional growth that goes beyond traditional research training.

Since its inception, ACORN has hosted nine projects that include studying the impact of fracking on the Ohio River Valley and expanding individual awareness of one’s carbon footprint through an app called Reduce. UW graduate students and postdocs are also working on projects related to community-owned renewables (solar) and the environmental health benefits of greener schoolyards. Recently, three graduate students have begun working on the Clean Energy Transition Institute’s new Northwest Clean Energy Atlas. ACORN has established an effective process for transdisciplinary work in communities and is an important collaborative pathway that creates communities of otherwise unconnected groups.

ACORN has consistently garnered high levels of interest from UW graduate students and postdocs as well as from community organizations, so we are excited to continue providing opportunities for academics to work with communities to address their climate and energy priorities. As ACORN grows and expands, we look forward to working with new community groups. If you are a community organization interested in exploring this opportunity, please email pccacorn@uw.edu with questions or to set up a time to meet. If you are a member of the UW community and would like to be more involved with the ACORN program, please email pccacorn@uw.edu or fill out our interest survey.