Environmental Program Evaluation

Topical Interest Group

2010 Business Meeting

Topics for Discussion

• EPE Updates• AEA 2011• Election of TIG Leadership• Other business?

EPE TIG Membership

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

Survey Respondents (N=21)

University Faculty/Staff 25%

Independent Consultant 38%

Small business owner/employee 19%

Federal Govt 13%

Graduate student 6%

% time devoted to evaluation Number respondentsnone 1<25% 225 - 49% 150 - 74% 675 - 100% 11

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

• 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

Other topical areas suggested

• Environmental Justice and Advocacy• Evaluation of climate change• Evaluation of urban/infrastructure

programs• Evaluation of sustainable

development

Other useful resources: Publications

• Journal of Environmental Education• Journal of Science Education• American Journal of Evaluation• New Directions in Evaluation

Other useful resources: Websites• MEERA• InformalScience.org• Environmental Evaluators Network

Listserve• Kstoolkit.org• Global Environment Facility Evaluation

Office, • UNDP evaluation office, • OECD DAC

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Electing TIG Leadership• Program Chair/Co-Chair

• TIG Chair