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Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
Help researchers tailor electric vehicle solutions (based on YOUR commute).
By Darlene Cavalier, Jan 31, 2010
Just back from a visit to Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Lab. Fascinating developments taking place there, not the least of which includes a number of citizen science initiatives! First up: ChargeCar!
This project, part of a series of community-based applied research activities coming out of CMU’s CommunityRobotics.org, is asking you to share your daily commute data. Why? “If we can accumulate a large database of real commutes,” the CMU site reports, “Electric Vehicle researchers will be better able to tailor solutions to individual trips, and the understanding of the typical commute will improve.”
In addition to contributing to science, you’ll be able to calculate the cost of commuting with an electric car using your actual commute data, compare the efficiency of gasoline and electric cars for your trips, and browse commutes across the country.
Give it a whirl! If you decide to participate, consider sharing your experience with others by creating a member blog right here on Sci4Cits!
This video explains more about ChargeCar:
Darlene Cavalier is a professor of practice at Arizona State University's School for the Future of Innovation in Society and a Senior Global Futures Scientist, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU. Professor Cavalier is the founder of SciStarter (a popular citizen science portal and research platform connecting millions of people to real science they can do), founder of Science Cheerleaders (a non profit organization comprised of current and former NFL, NBA and college cheerleaders pursuing STEM careers), cofounder of ECAST: Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology and cofounder of ScienceNearMe.org. She is a founding board member of the Citizen Science Association, an advisor and Fellow at National Geographic, a member of the EPA's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, appointed to the National Academy of Sciences "Designing Citizen Science to Support Science Learning" committee and named cochair of America 250's Innovation, Science, and Entrepreneurism Advisory Council. She is the co-editor of "The Rightful Place of Science: Citizen Science," author of "The Science of Cheerleading," and co-author of the Field Guide to Citizen Science (Timber Press). Recently, ASU President Michael Crow awarded Cavalier and her team the prestigious Medal for Social Embeddedness.
