Funding and Supporting Equitable Research Partnerships in the State of California

Abstract:

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), an interagency State body that brings together seven state agencies, has administered a new climate change research grant program since September 2017 and awarded three rounds of funding totaling ~$33 million to 20 research grants. The SGC's mission is to promote sustainable communities in California, focused broadly on supporting local economies, promoting equity, and ensuring environmental sustainability. With that mission in mind, the Climate Change Research (CCR) Program has a focus on funding and supporting actionable, applied research that co-produces knowledge with partners, communities, and stakeholders. This session will highlight how the CCR Program has advanced collaborative and equitable research partnerships, both in ongoing funded research grants, and through staff actions. As the CCR Program moved into its third round of funding, staff had received input from many community organizations, local governments, Tribal governments and organizations, and other partner organizations on how to create meaningful and equitable research partnerships. In order to advance these concepts, SGC hosted its first Climate Change Research Symposium in 2019 with the theme of Meaningful Engagement in Research. This event featured active dialogue and workshopping between diverse participants, organized in partnership with and building off a model created by AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange. Participants included community-based organizations, researchers, local and regional government partners, Tribal organizations and governments, other non-profits, and some private sector organizations. In this session staff will share lessons learned from hosting this event, as well as takeaways and best practices summarized from participants in the workshop.