A species of milkweed butterfly, Idea blanchardii

How Citizen Scientists Uncovered the Strange Behavior of ‘Vampire’ Butterflies

When a group of friends met up in the tropical forests of Indonesia, they were expecting to take in the verdant surroundings and hopefully nab a few photos of the colorful butterflies that congregate in the area. That’s what Yi-Kai Tea and his buddies found on the island of Sulawesi, nestled in the midst of … Read more “How Citizen Scientists Uncovered the Strange Behavior of ‘Vampire’ Butterflies”

Categories: Biology, Nature & Outdoors

Explore and Document Wild Weather Near You With These Projects

Have you noticed that extreme weather is becoming more common? Document weather changes near you and share your data to help scientists make better weather forecasts so we can all plan for floods, droughts, hurricanes and, on a lighter note, fun, outdoor events! Our collective data can also help people in the world’s most vulnerable … Read more “Explore and Document Wild Weather Near You With These Projects”

Categories: Environment, Newsletter

A brown dog's face from the nose up on a white background.

Are Dogs Aware of Their Own Thinking? Volunteers with Canine Metacognition Put Pups to the Test!

Does a dog ever think, in their own way, “That sure looks like a squirrel, but I could be mistaken?”  Throughout history, humans have thought that our ability to reflect on our own thinking — what scientists call metacognition — distinguishes us from other animals. But there’s growing evidence that’s not the case. Researchers have … Read more “Are Dogs Aware of Their Own Thinking? Volunteers with Canine Metacognition Put Pups to the Test!”

Categories: Animals, Citizen Science

SciStarter Partner Organizations

How Organizations Are Accelerating Research With Volunteerism and SciStarter

SciStarter partners with organizations to facilitate engagement and training and to accelerate research through volunteerism. From school districts, to corporations, to national and local organizations, our partners are vital community catalysts. Find inspiring examples below. Contact info@scistarter.org to explore partnership opportunities. Cheers! The SciStarter Team

Categories: Newsletter, Verizon

Researcher at work in lab that studies Alzheimer's disease.

Verizon Volunteers Sped Up Alzheimer’s Research. Here’s How You Can Help

Note: Portions of this article came from a description of Stall Catchers previously written by SciStarter. Across the United States, 5.7 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the seventh leading cause of death in America. But there is still no treatment or cure. Alzheimer’s hits close to home for many of us who have … Read more “Verizon Volunteers Sped Up Alzheimer’s Research. Here’s How You Can Help”

Categories: Project Profile, Verizon

Exploring Biodiversity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Erin Canter found her way to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, in eastern Tennessee, from what she describes as a very “stereotypical science” background: white coat, gloves, sequencing DNA in a lab. But “that didn’t quite do it for me,” she says. After six months spent mostly outdoors living in a tent while … Read more “Exploring Biodiversity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park”

Categories: Biology, Environment

These Fall Projects Let Anyone Protect and Study the Trees Around Us

The Girl Scout Tree Promise is an ambitious effort to plant, protect and honor 5 million trees across the country in five years. Anyone, anywhere can join this global movement to address climate change, one tree at a time!   Here’s how: (Optional) Plant a tree and record your good deed on the Girl Scout Tree … Read more “These Fall Projects Let Anyone Protect and Study the Trees Around Us”

Categories: Environment

Four Smartfin surfers with surfboards and lab coats pose on the beach.

With Smartfin, Surfers Collect Ocean Data While They Hang Ten

Oceans give our world life. Phytoplankton breathe out 70 percent of our oxygen, and the oceans’  currents and other physical properties are responsible for our weather and climate. Scientists have long been keeping tabs on the ocean with vast networks of sensors, satellites and other equipment, in order to understand more about how it works … Read more “With Smartfin, Surfers Collect Ocean Data While They Hang Ten”

Categories: Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Tools

Meet the Partners Hiking 17,000 Miles for Citizen Science and the Environment

On June 21, 2019, Sonya Richmond and Sean Morton took the first steps on an odyssey that would take them across the second-largest country on Earth. The duo is currently in the middle of a quest to walk the entirety of the Trans Canada Trail, a network of paths that stretches for thousands of miles … Read more “Meet the Partners Hiking 17,000 Miles for Citizen Science and the Environment”

Categories: Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors

With SciQuest, You Can Help Us Study Citizen Science Itself

Last summer, my friend Henry Gargan became obsessed with birds. Everywhere I went with him — on a walk in the park, downtown or even driving in the car — became a birding expedition. The bird on the signpost had to be scoped out. That eerie call — a wood thrush or a hermit thrush? … Read more “With SciQuest, You Can Help Us Study Citizen Science Itself”

Categories: Citizen Science, Project Profile