Session Title:Facilitation Matters - Techniques for Team Science and Evaluation

Presented by: Rachel Scott, Ed.D., University of Mississippi Center for Research Evaluation, USA

When: Monday, April 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT

Description: Effective team science relies on intentional facilitation to support coordination, trust, and shared understanding across disciplines. This session focuses on facilitation protocols and practical practices that help teams align goals, navigate complexity, and engage in collective sensemaking. Drawing from team science and evaluation contexts, the session highlights facilitation approaches participants can apply to strengthen collaboration and support adaptive, high-functioning research teams.

About Rachel Scott:  Rachel Scott, Ed.D., is a Principal Evaluation Associate at the University of Mississippi’s Center for Research Evaluation, where she leads evaluation and learning efforts for complex, multi-institutional initiatives across education, workforce development, and research infrastructure. Her work sits at the intersection of team science, evaluation, and facilitation, with a focus on designing intentional processes that support collaboration, shared sensemaking, and adaptive learning across interdisciplinary teams. Rachel brings extensive experience facilitating structured conversations, learning routines, and reflection protocols to support collective decision-making in dynamic research and implementation settings. She works closely with academic, community, and philanthropic partners to translate evidence into practice while strengthening how teams work together. Her current work includes evaluation and learning partnerships with NSF-funded initiatives, place-based collaborations, and capacity-building programs across the U.S. South.

To join the April INSciTS E&T SIG meeting, click here.

Meeting ID: 849 0562 5809

Passcode: 227010