Category: Insects

Is our thirst for energy killing the ecology of the Grand Canyon?

By Angus Chen, Aug 08, 2014

A new citizen science project invites volunteers to help study insect diversity in the Grand Canyon. Every night when she’s on the water, Gibney Siemion, a river expedition guide in the Grand Canyon, crouches at the edge of the Colorado River right on the line where the sand turns from wet to dry. Her equipment … Read more “Is our thirst for energy killing the ecology of the Grand Canyon?”

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

Waiting for a butterfly to flutter by with the Los Angeles Butterfly Survey

By Melinda T. Hough, Jul 20, 2014

Live in Los Angeles county? Photograph butterflies and moths, and help scientists study climate change. Interested in more moth and butterfly citizen science projects?  We’ve got you covered! “Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one…” [2] In the heat of summer monsoons, butterflies accompany the paddling … Read more “Waiting for a butterfly to flutter by with the Los Angeles Butterfly Survey”

Categories: Biology, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

UK’s Big Butterfly Count is on!

By Alex Reis, Jul 19, 2014

Count butterflies to find out about the state of nature. Interested in butterfly citizen science projects? We’ve got you covered! From next Saturday 19 July until Sunday 10 August 2014, the Big Butterfly Count will take place in the UK. This citizen science project is organized by Butterfly Conservation UK and can boast being the … Read more “UK’s Big Butterfly Count is on!”

Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Insects

Citizen Science on the Radio: WHYY Features Dan Duran’s Drexel Elaphrus Beetle Hunt

By Lily Bui, Jun 27, 2014

This week on The Pulse and SciStarter’s segment about citizen science, producer Kimberly Haas speaks with Dan Duran, who is running a project that monitors the elusive Elaphrus beetle to monitor stream health. Read WHYY’s related blog post to learn more. Here’s an excerpt: Dan Duran, assistant professor in Drexel University’s Department of Biodiversity, Earth … Read more “Citizen Science on the Radio: WHYY Features Dan Duran’s Drexel Elaphrus Beetle Hunt”

Categories: Citizen Science, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

Track Lilacs and Loons with Nature’s Notebook

By Rae Moore - Editor, May 19, 2014

Observe and collect data to learn how climate and habitat affect plants and animals with Nature’s Notebook. Track the phenology of plants and animals with these citizen science projects. Most North Americans are relieved that spring has finally arrived, especially after a winter when ice storms, snowstorms, frigid temperatures or droughts were regular occurrences. For … Read more “Track Lilacs and Loons with Nature’s Notebook”

Categories: Animals, Apps, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

Citizen Science for Lovers of Birds and Bees!

By Jenna Lang, May 16, 2014

Let us tell ‘ya about the birds and the bees — for citizen science, that is! Here are just a few buzz-worthy projects to get you started. Also, don’t forget to stop by DISCOVER Magazine and SciStarter’s online Citizen Science Salon; look for our new collaboration in the pages of Discover starting this month; or … Read more “Citizen Science for Lovers of Birds and Bees!”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

Citizen Science in the Classroom: School of Ants

By Karen McDonald, Apr 02, 2014

Using School of Ants Citizen Science to Meet Common Core and Next Generation Teaching Standards in the Classroom Discovering Ants Grades: K-12th Description: School of Ants (SOA) is one of many urban wildlife citizen science projects hosted through the Your Wildlife project. Your Wildlife and School of Ants focuses on biodiversity and citizen-scientist driven inquiry … Read more “Citizen Science in the Classroom: School of Ants”

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, EarthSchool, 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

Citizen Science in The Classroom: Monarch Migration

By Karen McDonald, Mar 16, 2014

Using Journey North’s Monarch Project to Meet Common Core and Next Generation Teaching Standards Citizen Science and Monarch Migration as a Teaching Tool Grades: K-12th Description: Journey North (JN) is a citizen science project for the observation and tracking of seasonal weather changes and phenology or life cycle changes in animals and plants. This website … Read more “Citizen Science in The Classroom: Monarch Migration”

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

Citizen Science in the Classroom Series: Lost Ladybug Project

By Karen McDonald, Dec 15, 2013

Using the Lost Lady Bug Project Citizen Science Project to Meet Common Core and Next Generation Teaching Standards Grades: Primary through adult Description: Scientists are asking for help learning about the distribution of native and invasive ladybugs, their populations, and ranges. Classrooms and individuals may participate by joining this project to upload their sightings of … Read more “Citizen Science in the Classroom Series: Lost Ladybug Project”

Categories: Analyzing and interpreting data, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Citizen Science, Insects, Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information, Planning and carrying out investigations, Science Education Standards

Monarch Monitoring – Help Count These Magnificent Migrators to Aid Conservation Efforts

By Emily Lewis, Dec 01, 2013

The monarch butterfly is a remarkable species.  Each year these insects migrate in a similar pattern to birds from colder to warmer climates as the seasons change, often returning to the same overwintering sites every year.  Unlike birds, however, no single monarch lives long enough to make the whole migration, so the journey occurs across … Read more “Monarch Monitoring – Help Count These Magnificent Migrators to Aid Conservation Efforts”

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