The aim of this group is to bring together researchers, scientists, Academia, NGOs, UN agencies and civil society around common goals such as human health, well-being, and resilience.

In the world of academia and research, there is much emphasis on publishing results in peer-reviewed journals (which are mostly read by others in the field), on applying for research grants or on teaching classes. There are often limited means to learn what is needed and to apply empirical findings and methods on the ground.

This group is aimed at those who are interested in:

o Collaborating with others (e.g. researchers from different fields, NGOs, civil society, and various organizations) around common goals
o Conducting research informed by NGOs, communities and other agencies on the ground
o Involving students in relevant research, civil service, and service learning
o Employing scientific expertise in areas such as human behavior, best practices, interventions, data collection, measurement, and evaluation in addressing real-world local and global issues
o Conducting and supporting research that makes use of local knowledge and capacities, is sensitive to customs and cultures, includes and empowers communities and is leads to sustainable and positive change.

Also see related article at: http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/Blog/Archive/0-selectMonth?blog-id=3&month=2007-8

Participation can occur through collaboration on projects, volunteering, networking, and dialogue:

o Join a network of others with common goals
o Introduce yourself
o Post announcements about events
o Find others who work in similar areas but from different perspectives
o Start a discussion or ask questions about a topic of interest
o Share ideas and get feedback
o Offer or seek out assistance or expertise for projects
….