Designing Collaborative Science Projects and Tools for Conservation Organizer: Steven Gray Collaborative Science is a highly interactive form of science where the public engages with experts to address often locally-relevant scientific questions. Similar to 'co-created' citizen science projects, such collaborations have been shown to positively impact conservation outcomes. In this symposium, we bring together learning scientists, conservation ecologists, and information scientists involved in Collaborative Science projects to discuss cyber-enabled tools designed to engage citizen scientists in conservation, scientific processes, and adaptive resource management. The rationale for creating an online space for collaboration is to give interested participants the tools they need to create and sustain projects that are highly collaborative but require resources and expertise beyond a small spatial scope. In particular we provide an overview of web-based modeling, spatial analysis, and social media tools designed to engage citizen scientists in scientific research related to conservation issues. The goal of this session is to highlight the ways in which natural resource management outcomes can be achieved through participatory modeling and place-based geospatial analysis with citizen scientists with a particular focus on volunteer motivation, retention, and learning. The ultimate goal of this series of talks is to provide a discussion about how citizen science programs can be designed to support conservation goals and what evidence exists to support the notion that volunteers can influence conservation decision-making. The session will close with a panel discussion from the speakers about the challenges and opportunities for future investigation to address potential gaps between volunteer engagement, citizen science programs and conservation outcomes. PRESENTATIONS:  Bridging the Benefits of Online and Community Supported Citizen Science: A Case study on Motivation and Retention with Conservation-Oriented Volunteers Troy Frensley, Virginia Tech Combining participatory modelling and citizen science to support volunteer conservation action Steven Gray, Michigan State University Conversations about Conservation: Seeing the impact of participation in citizen science projects on collaborative scientific practices. Joey Huang, Indiana University Studying citizen science through adaptive management and learning feedbacks as mechanisms for improving conservation Rebecca Jordan, Rutgers University Utilizing web-enabled geographic information systems to leverage the power of place in collaborative conservation science John Gallo, Conservation Biology Institute Rebecca JordanProfessor, Citizen Science and Environmental EducationDepartments of Human Ecology & Ecology, Evolution, and Natural ResourcesProgram in Science Learning, DirectorSchool of Environmental and Biological SciencesRutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, New Jersey, USA