The Smithsonian Science Education Center has released “Sustainable Communities! How will we help our community thrive?,” a new community research guide for youth ages 8–17. 

Sustainable Communities! is the new community research guide from the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project. In the guide, young people explore the question “How will we help our communities thrive?” through topics such as inclusion, urban planning, housing, transportation, resource use, and waste. Along the way, young people are introduced to a wide variety of perspectives, develop research skills, and learn from real scientists from around the globe. After discovering their own knowledge and feelings about their communities, young people understand the different aspects of sustainable communities through scientific and social scientific investigations. Then they use what they know and have learned to decide and implement actions to make their communities better.