Collaborative Learning School

 

The Collaborative Learning School (CLS) is a field workshop led by U.S. and African scientists and practitioners. The CLS connects participants with farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders at the community level to assess food security challenges and identify innovative solutions using the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus framework. The workshop takes place over a two-week period and involves both community-scale and policy-scale modeling and analysis around a community-identified water-energy-food (WEF) nexus problem. The goal of the CLS is to foster collaboration, co-creation, and inclusivity among scientists, community partners, and policymakers. Participants in the CLS will take an active role in these experiences, gaining practical knowledge from exercises which have set objectives and are targeted to benefit stakeholders served by the partnering networks.

The specific objectives of the CLS are to:

• Understand the complex nature of the food security challenges faced by communities.
• Introduce practical methods for applying WEF nexus tools and methods to enhance food security at the community scale.
• Design practical solutions which the community can implement or advocate for, and which may be supported by policy at larger scales.

Previous Collaborative Learning Schools

2024 – Chesapeake Bay, United States

The 2024 SustainFood CLS was hosted by Penn State and focused on the complex water-energy-food (WEF) nexus dynamics within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Week one composed of tours and research around the Dickinson College Farm in Boiling Springs, PA while addressing issues such as soil health, waste management, biogas, and livestock/water quality. Week two consisted of a meeting in Harrisburg to meet with policymakers, travel to see more of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, and a network-to-network workshop to finish this years program.

For more information, visit the 2024 CLS Page.

 

 

2023 – Kampala, Uganda

CLS 2023 was held in Uganda from 10-21 July, 2023.   Week one was dedicated to community-level workshops, which was centered in Buikwe County, Ddungi Parish, and the Ngogwe sub-county. In addition to community leaders, approximately 50 farmers from 5 villages in this area were engaged to identify community-level problems and potential solutions. Week two was dedicated to policy-level workshops. Workshops engaged both community stakeholders as well as district-level policymakers representing key sectors (e.g., agriculture, water, energy, economy, health, development, etc.).

For more information, visit the 2023 CLS Page.

     

 

CLS 2025 – To be announced!

More information about CLS 2025 will be posted soon!