Covering the people, projects and phenomena of citizen science
Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
Could you be a plant whisperer?
By Catherine Price, Jun 27, 2017
What are plants trying to tell us?
Take a moment to look at and listen to the plants around you. Are they blooming earlier than usual? Are they playing host to pollinators? Do you know their names? Summer is finally here and the plants in our yards, parks, and schools are probably in full bloom. Below we’ve highlighted four citizen science projects that help you help plants tell their stories. Find more projects and events on SciStarter, to do now or bookmark for later.
Cheers!
The SciStarter Team
CC-BY-SA
Pl@ntNet
Unsure of the name of the plants near you? With Pl@ntNet, you can snap a photo and let artificial intelligence do the rest. Plus scientists can use your photo to track plant health and locations (including the location of invasive species).
Hiking part of the Appalachian trail this summer? Send pictures of your trail-side plant observations to Mountain Watch and help scientists learn what new or returning guests have appeared this year.
Use the free iNaturalist app to map pollen and nectar sources in Pueblo County, CO. You’ll help identify and map the flower species that local bees visit. Add your iNaturalist user name to your SciStarter account settings to earn credit for your contributions in your SciStarter dashboard!
You can help monitor plant species in 1km square areas throughout the United Kingdom. Learn how to find a monitoring site near you and then join others to document local biodiversity…get to know your plant neighbors!
Want more citizen science? Discover more citizen science for this summer on the SciStarter Calendar. Also, check out SciStarter’s Project Finder! With 1100+ citizen science projects spanning every field of research, task and age group, there’s something for everyone!
Catherine was the project manager with the development of SciStarter 2.0. She loves finding new ways to connect the public to science through education. Catherine received her Bachelor's in Zoology from Miami University and her Master's of Science in Zoology from the University of British Columbia.
Take a moment to look at and listen to the plants around you. Are they blooming earlier than usual? Are they playing host to pollinators? Do you know their names? Summer is finally here and the plants in our yards, parks, and schools are probably in full bloom. Below we’ve highlighted four citizen science projects that help you help plants tell their stories. 
