Part innovation lab. Part think tank. Through an action-oriented approach, Ruminate combines the science of quantitative data and measurable impact with the qualitative wisdom of the food community and lived experiences. We break down tough problems to find effective solutions through in-person engagements, social innovation, and digital interactions.

Building connections between producers and plates

Our Ripe for Discussion sessions offer a chance to join other food leaders to discuss, debate, and ideate how to increase distribution and access to good food in local communities. Our second session took place in Santa Fe. Together, we diagnose the barriers to expanding access to value-focused, local food in restaurants, schools, and grocery and brainstorm solutions to these obstacles. They give a chance to leave with renewed and new networks and concepts that we will move forward together.

It goes a bit like this…

Our Ripe for Discussion series consists of micro-think tanks where everyday leaders roll their sleeves up and build change we can start making tomorrow through discussions and design-thinking inspired brainstorming sessions.

• First, we start with a contextual framework—an introduction of empirical data and evidence-based context for the session.

• Next, we hear from community and subject matter experts, learning from their lived and worked experience and expertise.

• Finally, we break out into groups and concept inventive solutions—participants bring their own knowledge and synthesize the content of the session.

• Afterward, attendees head home with new insights and Ruminate digs in deeper—the work products are made publicly available and the innovation process continues.

Read more about our Santa Fe session

“The solutions we are going for are social innovations—programs and
projects and even digital solutions such as apps that help connect farmers and consumers,” says Sascha Anderson, Ruminate’s education director. “We try to be agile in figuring out solutions, and with these workshops we hope the working groups can identify an idea to move forward with that we can help support.”

Zibby Wilder, a writer specializing in food, wine, travel/tourism, personalities and histories of place, wrote about our session for the Santa Fe Reporter. Check her article to read more about about what we did:

Farming a Movement

Hello Action Design organizers and ADN friends,
Do you apply behavioral science in your work, to develop better products, communications or policies? 

If so, we’d like to learn more: we’re surveying behavioral science teams around the world. Action Design Network has partnered with Dr. Stephen Wendel and the Behavioral Science & Policy Association to compile data on behavioral teams. As part of the process, you’ll be able to learn about the range of teams out there, from how big they are, to what they work on, to the challenges they’ve faced. 

We have created a comprehensive survey (www.behavioralteams.com) to learn about the range of behavioral teams out there, from how big they are, to what they work on, to the challenges they’ve faced.

We need your help with this initiative!

1. Visit www.behavioralteams.com to learn more about this initiative and complete the survey of behavioral teams.

2. Share this survey with your city members and/or various networks (email, social media, LinkedIn, word of mouth, etc.).

Th US Department of Health and Human Services has set up a challenge, called: Shape of Health – An Obesity Prevention Game. The goal is to create an interactive video game with focus on obesity prevention or weight control for women or girls.

On to round 2!

We’re excited that our research and proposal has been reviewed and selected to continue to the second round! We will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to deliver the in-person presentation.

Phase 2 of the competition builds upon the work of Phase 1 and is focused on prototyping the game, and providing an in-person presentation to a panel of judges. The participants should demonstrate both the evidence base for the intervention and its viability.

The in-person presentation must include a description of how the following components are incorporated into the game:

• Relates to women or girls;

• Targets a determinant of obesity; and

• Engages the player

The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) is seeking new ways to get health messages out to women and girls. According to the CDC, two out of every three women in the United States are overweight or obese1. This extra weight can lead to many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and many cancers. Obesity results from a combination of causes and contributing factors, including individual factors such as behavior and genetics. Some examples of behaviors that affect weight include diet, physical activity, inactivity, and stress. Improving behaviors in these areas can help women and girls maintain a healthy weight.

Check out the full description of the competition on challenge.gov.

So… What’s Ruminate?

Part innovation lab. Part think tank. Ruminate is a nonprofit using design thinking and behavioral science to co-create projects, products, and programs with communities of food leaders—all to support the spread of equitable, ethically, and environmentally sustainable food. We combine the science of quantitative data and measurable impact with the qualitative wisdom of the food community to break down tough problems and find effective solutions to today’s food systems issues.  

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Part innovation lab. Part think tank. Through an action-oriented approach, Ruminate combines the science of quantitative data and measurable impact with the qualitative wisdom of the food community and lived experiences. We break down tough problems to find effective solutions through in-person engagements, social innovation, and digital interactions.

Building connections between producers and plates

Our Ripe for Discussion sessions offer a chance to join other food leaders to discuss, debate, and ideate how to increase distribution and access to good food in local communities. Our inaugural session took place in Western Michigan. Together, we diagnose the barriers to expanding access to value-focused, local food in restaurants, schools, and grocery and brainstorm solutions to these obstacles. They give a chance to leave with renewed and new networks and concepts that we will move forward together.

It goes a bit like this…

Our Ripe for Discussion series consists of micro-think tanks where everyday leaders roll their sleeves up and build change we can start making tomorrow through discussions and design-thinking inspired brainstorming sessions.

• First, we start with a contextual framework—an introduction of empirical data and evidence-based context for the session.

• Next, we hear from community and subject matter experts, learning from their lived and worked experience and expertise.

• Finally, we break out into groups and concept inventive solutions—participants bring their own knowledge and synthesize the content of the session.

• Afterward, attendees head home with new insights and Ruminate digs in deeper—the work products are made publicly available and the innovation process continues.

Learn more about our Grand Rapids session

“The unique part of what we’re doing at Ruminate with Ripe for Discussion is that we’re co-creating with food communities to concept solutions that are built off of all of our expertise and lived experience, not just how that experience is viewed through the lens of the researcher,” she says. Their main goal of the nonprofit is to start and facilitate conversations among local food leaders in organized settings that eventually lead to tangible solutions and changed minds.”

Lauren Fay Carlson of Rapid Growth covered our first session. Check her article to read more about about what we did:

New nonprofit Ruminate gathers food leaders around the table

ACTION DESIGN NETWORK + PEOPLE SCIENCE

Action Design Network has partnered with PeopleScience to develop a job board focused on applied behavioral science opportunities in the modern marketplace. Behavioral science jobs are rare and often hard to find.

We aim to change that.

We want to make sure the best people have the best opportunities to do the best work.

Check out the latest behavioral science opportunities, post new jobs (it’s free), and help us grow the community of practitioners by sharing with your networks.

Action Design Network Jobs Page

Looking for behavioral science opportunities?

View and apply for jobs.

Hiring for behavioral science roles?

Post a Job. No Charge.

Who we are

Action Design Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2012 to promote the use of behavioral economics and psychology in policy and product design. The group has quickly grown to over 10,000 members with monthly events in cities across the US and Canada. Each month, speakers share research findings and practical lessons about how to help people voluntarily change daily routines and behavior to improve their lives. 

PeopleScience is the platform for behavioral insights in the modern marketplace. Credible, accessible, relatable and real. We host a conversation among academics, industry leaders and the intellectually curious about the potential and challenges of applied behavioral science.