Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
By Julia Travers, Oct 09, 2020
Post updated on 10/10/2020. In an era of social media bots, deepfakes and “alternative facts,” reliable news is more important than ever. Now, a citizen science project called Public Editor is asking volunteers to help suss out credible news through online analysis. With guidance and support, Public Editor volunteers evaluate sections of news articles for … Read more “Can Citizen Science Help Fight Misinformation and Biased News Coverage?”
Categories: Computers & Technology
By Julia Travers, Jun 10, 2019
Audubon’s Climate Watch Program needs volunteers to help it spot 12 birds threatened by climate change. Are you in? “Hope is the thing with feathers/ That perches in the soul,” Emily Dickinson wrote. Is there hope for our feathered friends in the era of climate change? Yes, but they need our help. More than 300 … Read more “Help Audubon Protect Threatened Birds by Participating in the Climate Watch Program”
Categories: Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, EarthSchool, Environment, Project Profile
By Julia Travers, Apr 26, 2019
Calling all tree lovers! This Arbor Day, help scientists study trees near you with TreeSnap, an easy-to-use app. Are you a tree lover with a smartphone? If so, you can help out scientists who are trying to breed stronger trees. Like all living beings, trees face a variety of challenges and illnesses. In addition to … Read more “Survivors in the Forest: Help Scientists by Identifying Resilient Trees”
Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment
By Julia Travers, Feb 14, 2019
Citizen science (public participation in scientific research) often calls for tools you won’t find lying around the house, such as a rain gauge to record precipitation or an air quality sensor. Lack of access to these tools can be a barrier to engaging in citizen science projects. To address this, SciStarter is creating a relational … Read more “New citizen science tools database to discover and access the right instruments”
Categories: Citizen Science News, Tools
By Julia Travers, Nov 28, 2018
England’s Royal Society, the national academy founded on November 28, 1660, is still churning out loads of scientific excellence. In this blog, a current fellow shares how we can all help combat climate change. On November 28, 1660, English scientist Christopher Wren spoke at Gresham College in Central London, launching what is now the Royal … Read more “Combating Climate Change: Advice from a Fellow of the Royal Society, England’s National Academy of Science, Which Launched on This Day in 1660”
Categories: Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, This Day in Science History
By Julia Travers, Sep 20, 2018
The Virginia Beach Blue Water Task Force works all twelve months of the year. When we visit the beach, water quality is the last thing most of us want to worry about. Virginia Beach receives more than 15 million tourists each year, and both the state Department of Health and a local branch of the … Read more “All Water Is Connected: Citizen Scientists Monitor Virginia Water Quality”
Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Project Profile
By Julia Travers, Apr 06, 2018
Scientists need your help to find out what ants in your neighborhood like to eat. Would you ask an ant to join you for lunch? A team of researchers at North Carolina State University in Raleigh calls on citizen scientists around the world to flip the picnic concept – they want *us* to feed the … Read more “Picnic Redux: Citizen Scientists Invite Ants to Lunch”
Categories: Citizen Science, EarthSchool, Insects
