Education and community engagement during NSF NCAR-supported field campaigns

Scientific field campaigns are critical components of atmospheric and related science research for data collection, comparison with models, and instrument testing. Additionally, such projects are unique opportunities to engage local communities and invite them into scientific spaces, inspire students to explore careers in the atmospheric sciences, and share science broadly. At the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR), a successful partnership between the Earth Observing Laboratory’s Research Aviation Facility (EOL/RAF) and the Center of Excellence for Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development (EdEC), in collaboration with principal investigators from the university community, has led to impactful education and engagement activities during domestic and international field campaigns. In this article, we share examples of these education and engagement activities and highlight the importance of engaging and collaborating with local communities during field campaigns.