Science to the Station

WorkGroups are coming SOON!

Why We Have Them

Our workgroups exist to:

- Align science with real-world needs:

By mixing frontline fire/EMS professionals with researchers and practitioners, we ensure that emerging science addresses the actual challenges responders face every day.

- Identify gaps and opportunities:

Through regular dialogue, members surface unmet needs, emerging trends, and overlooked areas where research, innovation, or policy can make a difference.

- Co-create usable solutions:

Workgroups focus on developing practical tools, resources, and strategies that can be implemented in departments and agencies across the country.

- Foster connection and collaboration:

Members form lasting networks with others who share their passion and expertise, creating a dynamic space for knowledge exchange and joint problem-solving.

These groups are where science meets the station, literally, so that the work we do improves the health, safety, and effectiveness of those who serve.

What Are Science to the Station Workgroups?

Science to the Station workgroups are collaborative teams that bring together fire and EMS professionals, academic researchers, and subject matter experts to bridge the gap between science and the street. Each workgroup is centered around a critical topic area impacting the fire and emergency services.

Our current workgroups include:

  • Sleep

  • Cancer

  • Occupational Health

  • Reproductive Health

  • Human Performance

  • Mental Health

  • Recruitment & Fire Camps

  • Workplace Civility

Requirements for Science to the Station Workgroup Membership

To maintain the integrity, focus, and impact of our workgroups, all members must meet the following criteria:

1. Active Science to the Station Membership:

Members must maintain a current, paid membership with Science to the Station for the duration of their involvement.

2. Relevant Professional Affiliation:
Members must be actively engaged in one of the following:

- Serving as a firefighter, EMT, or paramedic with a recognized fire or EMS agency

- Employed by an academic or research institution in a role relevant to the workgroup’s focus -Working with a company or organization that delivers services directly aligned with the goals of the specific workgroup (e.g., cancer prevention, mental health support, reproductive health)

3. Ongoing Engagement:

Members are expected to participate in at least one quarterly workgroup meeting per quarter and contribute meaningfully to discussions, initiatives, or deliverables throughout the year.

Logo for Sleep Workgroup for Fire & EMS featuring a sleeping flame character with Z's, in dark blue and red colors.

Explores how sleep quality, fatigue, shift schedules, and recovery time affect responder health, safety, and performance developing strategies to improve them.

Logo for the Cancer Workgroup for Fire & EMS with a stylized flame and a depiction of a cancer cell.

Focuses on reducing occupational cancer risks in fire and EMS through research translation, prevention strategies, and practical interventions for individuals and departments.

Logo for Reproductive Health Workgroup for Fire & EMS featuring a red flame, a silhouette of a fetus, and bold text in dark blue and red.

Investigates how fire and EMS work impacts reproductive outcomes and maternal health, aiming to inform policy and create protections for current and future responders.

Logo for Human Performance Workgroup for Fire & EMS featuring a stylized human figure with outstretched arms in front of a flame.

Promotes strength, mobility, resilience, and cardiovascular fitness in the fire/EMS workforce by translating performance science into sustainable practices and tools.

Logo for Mental Health Workgroup for Fire & EMS, featuring a human head silhouette with a brain inside and a flame graphic.

Connects behavioral health science with boots-on-the-ground realities, creating peer support tools, awareness campaigns, and actionable resources to support responder wellness.

Logo for OCC Health Workgroup featuring a stethoscope integrated with a red flame and the text "OCC Health Workgroup for Fire & EMS".

Focuses on job-related health risks: exposures, environmental hazards, musculoskeletal injuries, as well as implementation of annual medical evaluations, early detection screenings, and preventive care.

Silhouettes of three firefighters in firefighting gear with flames in the background, next to the text "Recruitment & Fire Camps Workgroup for Fire & EMS".

Focuses on effective recruitment strategies and the expansion of fire camps and outreach programs to build the next generation of fire and EMS professionals.

Logo for Workplace Civility Workgroup for Fire and EMS, featuring two simplified figures with a flame in the background, and text in bold fonts.

Advances research and practice around psychological safety, organizational culture, and respectful work environments to support retention and wellbeing across the workforce.