Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
By Molly Schools, May 12, 2020
Kids and adults both coo at the sight of a crawling caterpillar. We imagine that this hungry caterpillar may flutter past someday as a beautiful butterfly. Caterpillars and other insects with segmented bodies are called arthropods. And scientists need your help with a citizen science project aimed at understanding how these insects’ populations are changing. … Read more “How Counting Caterpillars Can Help Scientists Understand Climate Change”
Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors
By Eric Betz, Apr 22, 2020
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a time of year when many people by get outside to take part in community clean ups and environmental celebrations. But this year is different. Schools and parks have closed, and we’re left to celebrate while social distancing. This list of citizen science activities and projects can … Read more “Earth Day Activities: These Science Projects Get You Outside Virtually”
Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, EarthSchool, Ecology & Environment
By Caroline Nickerson, Oct 10, 2019
Do you want to know more about the world around you? iNaturalist allows anyone, anywhere to contribute to a global record of biodiversity by uploading pictures of plants and animals with their smartphone or computer. In a new podcast episode (listen below!), co-host Justin Schell talks with Dr. Carrie Seltzer, the Stakeholder Engagement Strategist for … Read more “Explore biodiversity with iNaturalist and the Appalachian Mountain Club”
Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Project Profile
By Caroline Nickerson, Sep 21, 2019
As the interviewer and the author of this post, I’ll reveal my bias now: meeting Michelle Neil, the secretary and social media moderator of the Australian Citizen Science Association, was a highlight of the Citizen Science Association’s conference for me. I’m an unabashed Michelle fan. She sat down with me this past March in Raleigh … Read more “Citizen Science in Australia: Spotlight on Michelle Neil”
Categories: Citizen Science, CitSci Research, Ecology & Environment, Events
By Lea Shell, Jul 27, 2019
The Discovery Channel’s popular Shark Week is July 28-August 4. Help scientists learn more about sharks through the projects we’ve tagged for you, below. This year, you can also help provide healthy ocean homes for sharks by joining the world’s largest volunteer effort for oceans: the International Coastal Cleanup. Cheers! The SciStarter Team
Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Education, Featured Projects, Newsletter, Ocean & Water, webinar
By Danielle Griffin, Jul 09, 2019
Anne Innis Dagg, Smitten by Giraffe: My Life as a Citizen Scientist, Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2016. 256 pp. $34.95 hardcover. Smitten by Giraffe: My Life as a Citizen Scientist is a memoir by Anne Innis Dagg. In the text, she describes her pursuits as a citizen scientist, ranging from her first encounter with giraffe … Read more “Book Review: Reflecting on a Life of Citizen Science”
Categories: Book Review, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment
By Kristin Butler, Jun 24, 2019
Kristin Butler dedicates her Scuba Series in remembrance of her beloved mother, Marilyn Butler, who passed along to Kristin a deep love for science and nature along with a pair of pink scuba diving fins. Each year, the Long Beach Scuba Show brings together divers from around the world for seminars and exhibits on all … Read more “Long Beach Scuba Show: Catching up with Reef Check and Ocean Sanctuaries”
Categories: Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors
By Lea Shell, Jun 18, 2019
This is a perfect week to make and share your pollinator observations with scientists. Our editors selected five projects in need of your help. More about pollinators from Penn State’s website:”Pollinators are animals (primarily insect, but sometimes avian or mammalian) that fertilize plants, resulting in the formation of seeds and the fruit surrounding seeds. Humans … Read more “It’s Pollinator Week and we’re all a-buzzzz!”
Categories: book, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Education, Environment, Featured Projects, Insects, Newsletter, Webinar, webinar
By Mara Dias, May 25, 2019
Heading to the beach this weekend? Consider citizen science at the beach by engaging in water quality testing with the Surfrider Foundation. The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots environmental organization whose mission is to protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches. Surfrider volunteers work in their communities across the country testing the water … Read more “Turning Passion into Protection: Citizen Science at the Beach with the Surfrider Foundation”
Categories: Chemistry, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Project Profile
By Bradley, May 03, 2019
Lead water pipes have been a fixture of modern civilization for more than two thousand years. Ancient Romans channeled water into homes and bathhouses through lead piping. In fact, the Latin word for lead, plumbum, is where we get the English word “plumbing.” Yet we have also long recognized that lead can have a serious … Read more “Crowd the Tap: Empowering Communities to Examine Their Lead Exposure”
Categories: Chemistry, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Project Profile
