Environmental Program Evaluation Topical Interest Group

1. Environmental Program Evaluation Topical Interest Group 2010 Business Meeting

2. Topics for Discussion • EPE Updates • AEA 2011 • Election of TIG Leadership • Other business?

3. EPE TIG Membership

4. EPE Updates • EPE hosted AEA365 Blog: EarthWeek - • Environmental Evaluators Network, EEN • June, 2011: 5th meeting in DC • June, 2011: 6th meeting in DC • Canadian EEN

5. Survey Respondents (N=21)

6. 4 out of 5 respondents spend at least 50% of their time doing evaluation work.

7. Evaluations of Conservation Biology (28%) • Ecological monitoring and assessment • Human dimensions of resource management • Evaluations of Environmental Policy and Management (66%) • Understanding policy effectiveness and environmental outcomes • Program and policy implementation • Evaluations of Environmental Education (57%) • Environmental Education in public and private school settings, and/or non-formal settings • Educational impacts of environmental education on learning • Evaluations of Energy Programs (24%) • Energy efficiency & conservation • Implementation and adoption of practices • Evaluations of International/Global Issues (38%)-  Education and will-building in support of environmental issues • -  Climate change practices, policies; International treaties, consortiums

8. Other topical areas suggested • Environmental Justice and Advocacy • Evaluation of climate change • Evaluation of urban/infrastructure programs • Evaluation of sustainable development

9. Other useful resources: Publications • Journal of Environmental Education • Journal of Science Education • American Journal of Evaluation • New Directions in Evaluation

10. Other useful resources: Websites • MEERA • InformalScience.org • Environmental Evaluators Network Listserve • Kstoolkit.org • Global Environment Facility Evaluation Office, • UNDP evaluation office, • OECD DAC

11. Other useful resources: Organizations • SEER • PEEC • Environmental Evaluators Network • UNEP • UNDP • AESP • CEEIC • NFWF

12. What would you like the EPE TIG to do? • Discussions of how to bridge natural and social science gap • Discussions of practical issues, constraints & case studies of environmental program evaluations • Address ability of evaluators without university connection to access journals • How to work with local stakeholders on results-based monitoring, evaluation & management

13. What would you like the EPE TIG to do? • Discussions of environmental ethics, advocacy • Create methodological thematic practice areas • Discussions of methodological challenges unique to environmental programs, e.g. biological time frame vs. program life; access to samples, etc. • Highlight issues shared across environmental sectors • Share resources, tools, databases

14. Suggestions for Networking in EPE TIG • Searchable member directory: to find local mentors, collaborators, advisors • Communications via listserve • LinkedIn group • Webinars on topics relevant to EPE • Library of resources, including tools & reports • Field trips • Summary from Johanna on existing resources

15. New trends, Emerging Themes & Hot topics • Evaluations of Conservation Biology • Evaluations of Environmental Policy and Management • Evaluations of Environmental Education • Evaluations of Energy Programs • Evaluations of International/Global Issues

16. AEA 2011: Anaheim, CA • Proposal Review Process • Proposals due online ~March 17 • Early April: AEA sends proposals to program chair: • Sends mis-directed proposals back to AEA • Sends out proposals to (3) reviewers • Late April: reviews returned to Program Chair; TIG leadership conference call to discuss nominating proposals to AEA • May 1: TIG leadership sends “workbook” to AEA • Early July: AEA notifies authors of acceptance • Reviewer Volunteers? • Field trip ideas?

17. Electing TIG Leadership • Program Chair/Co-Chair • TIG Chair