Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
By Bob Hirshon, Oct 09, 2022
With forests being wiped out worldwide by climate change, deforestation, pests and plagues, trees need all the help they can get. In this episode of the SciStarter podcast, we learn about three citizen science projects that monitor and protect trees. Also, with gift-giving season right around the corner, Bob also shares a few of his … Read more “Join Citizen Science Efforts to Preserve Our Forests”
Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Girl Scouts, Nature & Outdoors, Other
By Bob Hirshon, Sep 11, 2022
In this month’s SciStarter podcast, we’re heading back to school to see how teachers and even college professors are making citizen science a part of their classroom instruction. Participating in real science conducted by actual researchers can make science lessons come alive for students at all grade levels. Education leaders in Florida, North Carolina and … Read more “Citizen Science Goes to School”
Categories: Analyzing and interpreting data, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Citizen Science, Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering), Developing and using models, Education, Engaging in argument from evidence, Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information, Other, Planning and carrying out investigations, Science Education Standards, Using mathematics and computational thinking
By Bob Hirshon, Aug 11, 2022
In the latest episode of the SciStarter podcast, we celebrate National Dog Day (August 26th) with some canine citizen science. Scientists would like to learn about dog personalities and genetics; what traits help them perform well as service animals; and how environmental factors could affect their health. If you have a canine companion, you have … Read more “Dog Days of Science”
Categories: Other
By Bob Hirshon, Jul 26, 2022
Sharks get a lot more attention than, say, sea cucumbers, possibly because sharks tend to have much bigger teeth. They even get their own week! (note to Discovery Channel: please find room for Sea Cucumber Week). And yet, as marine scientist and shark expert David Shiffman points out, scientists are still discovering new things about … Read more “Tracking Sharks and Listening to Rays”
Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water
By Bob Hirshon, Feb 17, 2022
This post is based on the latest episode of our podcast, Citizen Science: Stories of Science We Can Do Together! In it, host Bob Hirshon talks with researchers reaching out to citizen scientists to help track infectious disease, create a national bank of biosamples and better understand neuromuscular mobility issues. Listen here: Citizen Science: Stories … Read more “Citizen Scientists Help Researchers Track Disease”
Categories: Citizen Science, Health, NNLM, podcast
By Bob Hirshon, Feb 03, 2022
This post is based on the latest episode of our podcast, Citizen Science: Stories of Science We Can Do Together! In it, co-host Bob Hirshon and Caroline Nickerson discuss some of the inspiring citizen science work conducted under the auspices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Listen here: Citizen Science: Stories of Science … Read more “Exploring Earth with NOAA Citizen Science”
Categories: Apps, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Education, Environment, Featured Projects, Geology & Earth Sciences, Ocean & Water, Other, podcast
By Bob Hirshon, Aug 18, 2021
Gluttonous space tourists from another dimension are creating portals into our world, with the aim of turning Earth into a popular alien theme park, and the InterDimensional Council, or IDC, needs Earth-based citizen scientists to stop them! Is this the latest conspiracy theory? Nope (at least not yet). It’s the premise behind a new augmented reality (AR) … Read more “A New Augmented Reality Citizen Science Game Is Coming to the National Parks”
Categories: Apps, Gaming
By Bob Hirshon, Dec 29, 2020
This post was originally published as a SciStarter newsletter. Sign up to receive bi-weekly citizen science in your inbox! Thank you, SciStarter citizen scientists! Thanks to nearly 100,000 registered SciStarter users and many other visitors in 2020 alone, we collectively helped scientists accelerate research about COVID-19, monitor light pollution and climate change, catalogue biodiversity all around … Read more “Top 20 Citizen Science Projects of 2020”
Categories: Citizen Science News, Events, Featured Projects, Newsletter, NNLM
By Bob Hirshon, Dec 12, 2020
This post was originally published as a SciStarter newsletter. Sign up to receive bi-weekly citizen science in your inbox! ‘Tis the season for citizen science! Like a warm cup of cocoa, these family favorite films evoke the spirit of giving, especially when paired with citizen science activities. Whether you’re outside dashing through the snow or at … Read more “SciStarter’s Holiday Film Guide”
Categories: Newsletter
By Bob Hirshon, Nov 28, 2020
Treat yourself (or someone else you love) to these awesome citizen science instruments. Do you, your friends or family members engage in gardening, birdwatching, stargazing or other science hobbies? If so, then our annual SciStarter Gift Guide is just what you need to find the ideal gift to take things to the next level of discovery! … Read more
Categories: Newsletter