Give the Gift of Citizen Science for the Holidays!

  Share bird watching, sky gazing, weather tracking and other citizen science passions with your friends and family, with science exploration gifts and shared adventures! Field Guide to Citizen Science Want to get your friends and family hooked on citizen science? The Field Guide to Citizen Science, co-authored by our very own Darlene Cavalier, is an accessible introduction. … Read more “Give the Gift of Citizen Science for the Holidays!”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Birds, Calendar, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Field Guide to Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors

Darwin’s Cats: Using Citizen Science to Crack the Cat Code

Have you watched your cat make a beeline for an empty box or zoom around the room after a nap and wondered: why do they do that?  Scientists have pondered the same questions, but there are few definitive answers. Despite being our companions for centuries, our scientific understanding of cats is surprisingly sparse. This knowledge … Read more “Darwin’s Cats: Using Citizen Science to Crack the Cat Code”

Categories: Animals, mammals, Project Profile

Take Flight with Flyways: Libraries and Others Across the Nation Soar into Bird Citizen Science

SciStarter and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios have joined forces to create the Flyways Citizen Science Program, an initiative that aims to engage communities worldwide in the study and conservation of migratory birds.  By visiting the Flyways page on SciStarter, anyone, anywhere in the world can learn more about the Flyways film, discover how to screen … Read more “Take Flight with Flyways: Libraries and Others Across the Nation Soar into Bird Citizen Science”

Categories: Birds, Citizen Science, Flyways, libraries

Photo of sleepy dog

What Goes On Inside the Mind of a Dog?

From the first time a curious wolf approached fearful humans and managed to befriend them, dogs have been a big part of the human experience. For over 15,000 years, they’ve been our co-workers and companions. Since then, we’ve learned a lot about dogs and our relationship to them (as you’ll learn if you watch Inside the … Read more “What Goes On Inside the Mind of a Dog?”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Featured Projects, Other

Dive Into Summer Citizen Science

It’s July, ideal for cooling off with marine science exploration. In that spirit, here’s some wet and wild science research that needs your help. Sharks Are Jawsome! Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the television, it’s Shark Mania Season! If the wall to wall shark viewing frenzy puts you in … Read more “Dive Into Summer Citizen Science”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Other

A firefly flashes on a black background

SciStarter Podcast: Sensations of Summer

Every season has its own unique sights, sounds and other sensations. In this episode of the SciStarter podcast, we look at fireflies, listen to cicadas, feel the ocean waves and extend our senses beyond the bounds of our planet. Audio Podcast Video Podcast Credits: Firefly Closeup Terry Priest CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Surfing Beach Video … Read more “SciStarter Podcast: Sensations of Summer”

Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Featured Projects, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, podcast, videos

Dragonfly sitting on a stalk of wheat

Days of Dragonflies, Fireflies and Fly Fishing

It’s the season for emergences, whether you’re a dragonfly, firefly, periodical cicada or fly fishing enthusiast! The warm weather brings a variety of citizen science opportunities, some of them fleeting, so we hope you can get outdoors and experience the wonders of nature with your friends and family, and help document them for the many … Read more “Days of Dragonflies, Fireflies and Fly Fishing”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter, Ocean & Water, Other

Photo of race horses crossing a finish line

Across the Finish Line! Citizen Science Month Final Days

You did it! As of April 25, you’ve completed 1,017,253 acts of science, with five days still to go! But even though we’ve reached our target and April ends next week, we’re not skimping on fun citizen science activities! We’re focusing on medicine and public health, along with a big One Million Acts of Science … Read more “Across the Finish Line! Citizen Science Month Final Days”

Categories: Alzheimers, Animals, Citizen Science Month, Ecology & Environment, Girl Scouts, Global Citizen Science Month, libraries, Nature & Outdoors, webinar

A squirrel eats a seed on a wooden railing, ready to be observed by participants in the Project Squirrel citizen science project.

Happy Squirrel Day!

@scistarter.org Boost your Squirrel IQ with this jam-packed 90-second hit of squirreliffic fantasticness! #nationalsquirrelappreciationday #citizenscience ♬ original sound – SciStarter Now that you know (too much!) about squirrels, find and join one of these projects to help advance research about these adorable [rodents] [jerks] [cuties]. You choose. 🙂

Categories: Animals

Check out SciStarter’s top projects of 2023!

In 2023, volunteers like you made over two million contributions to SciStarter Affiliate projects. That’s two million data points scientists wouldn’t have had otherwise. The top five projects this year included both perennial favorites and newcomers, and touched on subjects near and far: the night sky, backyards and even inside our bodies. Check them out … Read more “Check out SciStarter’s top projects of 2023!”

Categories: Alzheimers, Animals, Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather