BRAIDWHAT WE DO
Transforming geosciences through partnerships and access
BRAID Activities
BRAID hosts symposia to catalyze partnerships, develops professional-development workshops, supports our members as they collaborate on projects, publishes journal articles, and presents results at national conferences. See our recent activities below.
ACES/BRAID Workshop 2026
In May 2026, the ACES/BRAID workshop gathered, facilitated and produced:
50 Participants from early- to late-stage careers
22 Organizations represented
18 Disciplines/Roles
7 Working groups assembled
6 Thought-provoking stories of career pathways outside academia
6 One-pagers for proposals to federal and philanthropic funders
2 Plans for journal articles
2 Inspiring presentations by former federal funders
1 Set of concepts and goals for a Woods Hole Collaborative
EOS article 2026
BRAID members authored an article for the American Geophysical Union journal EOS describing the rationale for BRAID and its initial outcomes. The article has been accepted for publication - check back here soon for a link.
ACES Woods Hole 2025 - 2026
Accelerating Climate and Environmental Sciences - Woods Hole (ACES-Woods Hole) is an NSF-funded postbaccalaureate internship program that facilitates the transition of recent college graduates into graduate studies and careers in climate and environmental sciences. ACES equips participants with the skills, mentorship, and experience needed to thrive in these critical fields by creating a collaborative and supportive learning ecosystem. Through this work, the program strengthens the geosciences workforce and provides a model for efforts in other science fields. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster. Learn more HERE.
Social Science at ASHE, AERA, and AGU Conferences
The Social Science Educational Research team has partnered with researchers in Woods Hole research institutions to examine student experiences in the geosciences, with a particular focus on access, equity, and pathways into the field. Through these cross-disciplinary collaborations, the team has conducted research that informs both practice and policy in STEM education. Findings from these collaborative projects have been shared at major national conferences, including the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU). To learn more about these conference presentations, click here (links coming soon): AERA 2026, AERA 2025, ASHE 2025, ASHE 2024, AGU 2024.
ACE-MCS 2023 - 2026
Advancing Collaborations for Equity in Marine and Climate Sciences (ACE-MCS) is a collaborative research project focused on examining a multi-organizational partnership among six research institutions in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This initiative seeks to advance access to the fields of marine and climate sciences by fostering collaboration and addressing systemic challenges. It was funded initially by the National Science Foundation and more recently by the Spencer Foundation Spencer Foundation, Kapor Foundation, William T. Grant Foundation, and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Rapid Response Bridge Program. In 2025, the work expanded to include the influence of changing national priorities on people in these fields. More detail on project HERE.
BRAID Visioning 2026
In 2025, BRAID leadership embarked on a visioning process to re-evaluate the mission, purpose, and values of the alliance. With input from its members, and guidance from education scholars, the alliance has emerged with a more explicit and transparent message that positions it to pursue its goals boldly and effectively in 2026 and into the future.
Woods Hole Interns 2025
In summer 2025, six undergraduate interns, recruited through non-traditional pipelines, joined research labs at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for a 3-month training program. The interns conducted research and participated in a set of skills workshops, scientific ethics training, and other professional development activities.. The interns were supported by research grants from various federal and non-federal agencies, and summer housing was made available by the WHOI Academic Programs office.
LinkedIn Workshop 2024
In summer 2025, six undergraduate interns, recruited through non-traditional pipelines, joined research labs at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for a 3-month training program. The interns conducted research and participated in a set of skills workshops, scientific ethics training, and other professional development activities.. The interns were supported by research grants from various federal and non-federal agencies, and summer housing was made available by the WHOI Academic Programs office.
AGU Conference 2024
he American Geophysical Union (AGU) is the world's largest Earth and space science association. Twelve members of BRAID attended the annual AGU conference in 2024. Members, their students, and alumni presented posters and talks at research, education, and outreach sessions. BRAID members were invited guests at the AGU LANDInG session.
BRAID Symposium 2023
In 2023, BRAID hosted a NSF-funded Symposium in Woods Hole that launched the alliance, catalyzed partnerships, and formed working groups. Session leaders placed a strong focus on building trust among the participants who came from a broad range of disciplines, institutions, and professional cultures. We developed 12 white papers for proposals to federal funding agencies (7 BRAID proposals were submitted and 3 funded in 2023 - 2024), and created working groups for communications and governance.