Enlisting youth citizen scientists to combat Zika

Going out of your way to attract mosquitoes seems like the last thing anyone would want to do, but that is exactly what the national Invasive Mosquito Project is hoping volunteers will do in the name of public health. Managed through the United States Department of Agriculture, the Invasive Mosquito Project aims to track the spread of … Read more “Enlisting youth citizen scientists to combat Zika”

Categories: Analyzing and interpreting data, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Biology, Citizen Science, Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering), Ecology & Environment, Education, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Planning and carrying out investigations, Project Profile, Science Practices

Spring, Citizen Science and some Irish luck!

Photo: CL Goforth Critter Tracking With spring weather upon us, many animals are on the move. Contribute your wildlife observations to advance scientific research. Learn how, below. Find projects from our pals in Ireland, Canada, the EU, and now, Australia through our brand new international partnership. Like citizen science, SciStarter is global. You can find more … Read more “Spring, Citizen Science and some Irish luck!”

Categories: Birds, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter

Frightfully Delightful Citizen Science for Halloween!

It’s time for ghouls and goblins, candy and costumes, AND citizen science! Here are six creep crawly projects to spice up your Halloween festivities. Find 1,000 more! Happy Halloween, The SciStarter Team   Photo: NASA Send Us Your Skeletons This project needs skeletons, but don’t worry- they don’t want human ones! The Department of Fisheries … Read more “Frightfully Delightful Citizen Science for Halloween!”

Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, Insects, Newsletter

Dragonfly Watch – Find Those Fast and Furious Insects!

“I’m an aquatic entomologist, and dragonflies and damselflies are the most colorful and noticeable insects in the habitats in which I work,” says Dr. Celeste A. Searles Mazzacano, a staff scientist and Aquatic Conservation Director at the Xerces Society. In her role as the project coordinator for the Migratory Dragonfly Partnership, she continues to add … Read more “Dragonfly Watch – Find Those Fast and Furious Insects!”

Categories: Citizen Science, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

Like Bugs? Here Are Six Citizen Science Projects for You!

Many of us are fascinated by insects. They creep, they crawl, they fly, and they’re everywhere!  Good thing, because we need them. Here are six insect projects you can do in your backyard, your neighborhood, at school (or in Costa Rica!). Check out the SciStarter blog for updates on your favorite projects and find new projects … Read more “Like Bugs? Here Are Six Citizen Science Projects for You!”

Categories: Biology, Ecology & Environment, Insects

What is killing California’s trees, and what can you do about it?

Editor’s note: This post originally appeared on the author’s blog. Project SCARAB is one of more than 800 great citizen science projects on SciStarter. Use our project finder to find one that you can participate in! The great thing about living in a major port city such as Los Angeles is having access to ideas and … Read more “What is killing California’s trees, and what can you do about it?”

Categories: Apps, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Insects

Citizen Science in the Rocky Mountains – Celebrate Halloween with the Colorado Spider Survey

Love Creepy Crawlies? Check out our Halloween Picks! Editors Note: This post was written by Aditi Joshi, a freelance science writer and a new contributor at SciStarter As a kid, I avoided houses that had spider decorations during Halloween. Even today, I find spiders scary. Spiders add an extra ounce of spookiness to Halloween.  Spiders … Read more “Citizen Science in the Rocky Mountains – Celebrate Halloween with the Colorado Spider Survey”

Categories: Citizen Science, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

Citizen Science in The Classroom: Monarch Migration

Editor’s Note: This post has been republished and shared in celebration of SciStarter’s Back To School campaign where you will find 10 citizen science projects aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.   Using Journey North’s Monarch Project to Meet Common Core and Next Generation Teaching Standards Citizen Science and Monarch Migration as a Teaching Tool … Read more “Citizen Science in The Classroom: Monarch Migration”

Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, EarthSchool, Ecology & Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Science Education Standards

Citizen Science in the Classroom: Monitoring Dragonflies

Using Pond Watch citizen science project, monitoring dragonflies, in the classroom to meet Next Generation Science Standards and other teaching standards. … Read more

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, Engaging in argument from evidence, Insects, Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information, Planning and carrying out investigations, Science Education Standards, Science Practices, Using mathematics and computational thinking