Hands of an elderly person hold a smartphone, taking a photo of a moss, in a forest.

How to Be a Citizen Scientist: A Beginner’s Guide

Science makes the world go round. It’s what brought us modern medicine, clean water and the technologies in our homes and in our pockets. And more and more, the pursuit of science is all about information.  Sometimes, scientists need more information than they can collect on their own. Medical researchers want more information about people’s … Read more “How to Be a Citizen Scientist: A Beginner’s Guide”

Categories: About Us, Citizen Science, Citizen Science Month

A hand holding a smartphone in the woods. On screen is the Mountain Rain or Snow website.

How can it snow when temperatures are above freezing? Mountain Rain or Snow has the answer — and wants your help studying it

A glimpse at the temperature during the next snowfall might surprise you: It may not actually be below freezing outside. Don’t worry, your thermometer isn’t broken, and you didn’t miss a memo about a change in the laws of physics. There’s a straightforward reason why it can snow above 32°F — though it does make … Read more “How can it snow when temperatures are above freezing? Mountain Rain or Snow has the answer — and wants your help studying it”

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

A great blue heron wades through shallow water.

The People’s University: Cooperative Extension’s Role with Citizen Science

Did you know that in nearly every county across the U.S., there’s an office working on programs for youth development, agriculture, landscaping, health and wellness, community development, natural resource conservation and more? They’re all part of what’s called the Cooperative Extension, or “Extension” for short. They’re one of the most far-reaching, non-formal educational programs there … Read more “The People’s University: Cooperative Extension’s Role with Citizen Science”

Categories: Citizen Science, Education, Nature & Outdoors, University

Home page image from Flu Near You project, showing a woman checking a child's temperature

Citizen Scientists Help Researchers Track Disease

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

Sea Level Rise Citizen Science with the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

The curved arm of Cape Cod jutting out into the Atlantic with 560 miles of beautiful coastline hints at the Cape’s glacial beginnings and its vulnerability to sea levels, now rising as a direct result of climate change. A disappearing island, a lost clam shack and a Beluga whale found in landlocked Vermont were all … Read more “Sea Level Rise Citizen Science with the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Ocean & Water

Watershed Citizen Science with the South Dakota Discovery Center

How do you get people to care about the invisible? Watersheds are difficult to see, except for those who are conversant with hydrology or topographic maps. As much a geographic concept as a landform, watersheds are unlike hills or valleys or plains in that watersheds do not have a shape that is familiar to us. … Read more “Watershed Citizen Science with the South Dakota Discovery Center”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment

This image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows a cross-section of the undersea, land and sky at Tafeu Cove in American Somoa.

Exploring Earth with NOAA Citizen Science

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

A banner reads, "aid public health with these citizen science projects!" SciStarter. Science we can do together. A robot cartoon wearing a mask holds a doctor's clipboard.

Help improve health around the world with these projects!

We’re sure sick of this pandemic, and we bet you are, too. Luckily, there’s a citizen science project for that: With Eterna, participants play a game that helps researchers study how mRNA works (which some COVID vaccines are made of). But COVID isn’t the only health issue you can tackle with citizen science. Projects let … Read more “Help improve health around the world with these projects!”

Categories: Citizen Science, Featured Projects, Health, Newsletter

Three photos show students collecting snow depth measurements using a meter stick, thermometer and recording observations on a clipboard.

Got Snow? Classrooms Get Outside for Citizen Science

As snow blankets the world each winter, the colder temperatures and shorter days can tempt us to curl up indoors with a hot chocolate, watching the winter landscape through the window. But there’s still much to be learned from the great outdoors! That’s why Sknowledge Collective — short for Snow Knowledge — is bringing the … Read more “Got Snow? Classrooms Get Outside for Citizen Science”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Education, Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Playing Stall Catchers on a smartphone

Citizen Science All-Stars: Meet Our Top Contributors

Citizen science projects are only as good as the people that contribute to them. For some projects, diversity is key — researchers need as many different people as possible to contribute. But for others, quantity is the name of the game, and just a handful of people can make a huge difference. These top contributors, … Read more “Citizen Science All-Stars: Meet Our Top Contributors”

Categories: Citizen Science, SciStarter News