Learning Environments

Creating a Safe Learning Environment in Field Settings

Chris Lay
2020

Poor communication is often an overlooked contributor to accidents in field settings. For this reason, it's critical for field leaders to focus on creating a group environment with clear expectations, good rapport between leaders and participants, tools for managing conflict, and open lines of communication. When done successfully, safe learning/working environments not only reduce the likelihood of accidents but also often lead to more enjoyable group experiences. Join us for a discussion of best practices.

Speaker: Chris Lay, Administrative Director and...

ADVANCEing Field Safety: Preparation & Leadership in the Field

2026

ADVANCEing FieldSafety (AFS) is a widely accessible training for anyone working in field science to help build a safe and welcoming field environment and team culture. The program is a NSF-funded collaboration between the FieldSafe team at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder and the ADVANCEGeo Partnership. In this presentation, the AFS team introduced the program and all of its components and shared content from the first...