“Mare Nostrum Caribbean” 
(“Our Caribbean Sea”) 
Programs and Partnerships
Virgin Islands Experimental Program to 
Stimulate Competitive Research 
Some Thoughts on 
How to Sustain a Successful Program 
Mark R. Boardman 
"In the end 
We will conserve only what we love; 
We will love only what we understand; 
and 
We will understand only what we are 
taught." 
(Baba Dioum, 1968.)
Grouper 
spawning, fisheries, legal issues, tourism 
 REEF
Cayman Islands Government
Resorts - Dive Operators
Never doubt that a small group 
of thoughtful, committed 
citizens can change the world; 
indeed, it's the only thing that 
ever has. 
Margaret Mead (1901-1978) 
From housewife and mother of children 
to the mother of Superfund
Lois Gibbs
A hero and an example 
of Citizen Science 
From housewife and mother of children 
to the mother of Superfund
Lois Gibbs
         
BUT 
she did not do it alone
- “it takes a village”
strength in numbers
strength in focus
Citizen Science has greater impact if it is 
done as a group 
(part of a sustainable program) 
strength in
Programs and 
Partnerships
What does it take for a citizen science 
program to be successful and 
sustainable?
Pertinent and 
Practical 
“P” words
for
Sustainability
Philosophy
Vision: emotional, passionate
Mission: strategy (with discreet goals)
Philosophy
Keep them separate
Write them down
KISS
Vision: emotional, passionate
Mission: strategy (with discreet goals)
Protocols
(methods)
must meet the needs of the strategy
must meet the abilities of the citizens
must meet the tests of science
Protocols
(methods)
must meet the needs of the strategy
must meet the abilities of the citizens
must meet the tests of science
Keep them separate
Write them down
KISS
Vision
Adjust as needed: 
methods to meet strategy
and/or
strategy to meet methods
Strategy
Methods
Vision
Adjust as needed: 
methods to meet strategy
and/or
strategy to meet methods
Strategy
Methods
review board / 
advisory board
Place
(home, office)
phone, address
website
 
Place
(home, office)
keep them as 
constant as 
possible
phone, address
website
 
Processing Data
(often a lot of drudgery)
computer and computer geek
backup (backup again)
accessibility
Processing Data
(often a lot of drudgery)
computer and computer geek
backup (backup again)
accessibility
consistency
transferable
exchangeable
Vision
Strategy
Methods
Data
make a difference
be sustainable
Partnerships
other citizen groups - stay informed
private businesses - they are stakeholders, too
government agencies - another stakeholder
 
Partnerships
other citizen groups - stay informed
private businesses - they are stakeholders, too
government agencies - another stakeholder
 
1. make a difference
3. “a many legged stool”
2. not an us vs. they;
     a “we together”
Publicity
keep volunteers and partners informed
keep the public informed
keep all stakeholders informed
politicians, news media, donors, . . . 
Publicity
1. timeliness
keep volunteers and partners informed
keep the public informed
keep all stakeholders informed
politicians, news media, donors, . . . 
2. perfection is the             
enemy of the possible
Publicity
1. timeliness
keep volunteers and partners informed
keep the public informed
keep all stakeholders informed
politicians, news media, donors, . . . 
2. perfection is the 
enemy of the possible
Social Interactions
Annual meetings
Picnics
Awards
Phunding
(funding)
computers, copying, phone, website
money needs a bank account, EIN, IRS, 
donors need a 501(c)3 (tax deductions)
Phunding
(funding)
computers, copying, phone, website
money needs a bank account, EIN, IRS, 
donors need a 501(c)3 (tax deductions)
Grants
People
match talents and passions with duties
    tech-savvy with computers
    writers and extraverts to publicity
    strong, healthy people to do the legwork
People
match talents and passions with duties
    tech-savvy with computers
    writers and extraverts to publicity
    strong, healthy people to do the legwork
acknowledge 
all 
contributions
Program
(hierarchy; a structure)
oversight committee (internal; inclusive)
staff (volunteers and/or paid)
advisory (external);   consultants (external)
oversight committee (internal; inclusive)
staff (volunteers and/or paid)
advisory (external);   consultants (external)
personality-driven 
to
 board-driven
Program
(hierarchy; a structure)
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, 
committed citizens can change the world; 
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. 
Margaret Mead (1901-1978) 
Philosophy (vision and strategy)
Protocols
Place
Process data
Partnerships
Publicity
Phunding (funding)
People
Program (not personality)
Some Thoughts on 
How to Sustain a Successful Program 
Mark R. Boardman 
“Mare Nostrum Caribbean” 
(“Our Caribbean Sea”) 
Virgin Islands Experimental Program to 
Stimulate Competitive Research 
Programs and 
Partnerships
strength in numbers
strength in focus
Citizen Science has greater impact if it is 
done as a group 
(part of a sustainable program)