Hello! I’m Kristi Lekies, Associate Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University where my position includes teaching, research on human-nature interactions across the life span, and evaluation. I’ve been an evaluator for over 25 years and have worked on projects focused on early childhood education, afterschool programs, foster parent training, community development, and more recently, outdoor adventure recreation, climate change, and agriculture. I love evaluation for what it can contribute to the well-being of the world and the opportunity to engage in transdisciplinary practice.
Evaluation enables us to play an important role in formulation of solutions for critical environmental issues. In honor of Earth Day 2023, I encourage all of us to think of ways we can engage in sustainable and eco-centered evaluation and increase our impact.
Hot Tips:
- Say yes to opportunities
If approached about a project related to the environment, I think about the contribution I can make and say yes whenever I can. The transdisciplinary expertise of evaluators can contribute new insights, help programs or initiatives reach their potential, and add value to any given project. This expertise can ultimately translate into greater care for the environment.
- Promote positive examples
Working with collaborators, I consider how evaluation findings can be extended to broader audiences, whether through presentations to different groups, the American Evaluation Association (AEA) annual conference, reports, journal articles, social media, or other forms of outreach. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with several innovative programs, and we’ve examined ways to share findings with multiple audiences to have greater impact. Share the inspiration and great ideas!
- Reduce the carbon footprint of evaluation
When pursuing any evaluation project, I watch my carbon footprint. Can I reduce paper and plastic? Can I hold meetings online rather than travel? How can I be more intentional about my use of resources while conducting an evaluation? Think of ways to set a good example.
- Include the earth and its ecosystems in evaluation
When planning an evaluation, consider larger impacts on the environment. How broadly do I think about costs and benefits, not just to people, but also to trees, wildlife, water, the climate, and all the tiny processes and creatures we do not see? I am reminded of biologist E. O. Wilson’s 1987 article , “The Little Things that Run the World (The Importance and Conservation of Invertebrates).”
- Say no when you need to say no
Self-care for ourselves is equally important. Sometimes we really do need to step back, say no to requests, and take care of our own needs if we are to be sustained as evaluators who thrive, engage, and have impact.
- Build community
To deal with current and future environmental challenges, it is critical to build community. That means seeking out peer support, welcoming collaborators and stakeholders, including a diversity of voices in our practice, attending AEA meetings, and participating in TIG groups to become better acquainted and create support for one another.
- Prepare the next generation of evaluators
Finally, it is important that undergraduate and graduate students in the environment and natural resources fields learn about evaluation and transdisciplinary work. If you work with students, suggest an evaluation course, teach basic evaluation principles and methods in existing courses, or involve students in an evaluation project or internship.
Many other ideas exist. Even small efforts can make a difference!
The American Evaluation Association is hosting Environmental Program Evaluation TIG Week with our colleagues in the Environmental Program Evaluation Topical Interest Group. The contributions all this week to AEA365 come from our EPE TIG members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this AEA365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the AEA365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an AEA365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to AEA365@eval.org. AEA365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators. The views and opinions expressed on the AEA365 blog are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the American Evaluation Association, and/or any/all contributors to this site.