Orchid Observers: Tracking the Effect of Climate Change Through Citizen Science

by Russ Campbell Orchids have long held an enigmatic mystique.  Perhaps their origins as tropical and subtropical plants found in exotic locales and an early lack of understanding of how they survive have contributed to their status.  By the 19th century, orchids were a status of the British well-to-do. The famed voyager and scientist Charles … Read more “Orchid Observers: Tracking the Effect of Climate Change Through Citizen Science”

Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Project Profile

Citizen Scientists Like You Could Change How We Handle Iraq’s Humanitarian Crisis

By analyzing images taken during times of humanitarian crises, citizen scientists can help refine a tool for data analysis improve relief efforts. A guest post by Megan Passey and Jeremy Othenio. Edited by Arvind Suresh In August 2014, following the fall of Mosul in Iraq, the UN declared the situation a level 3 crisis, the … Read more “Citizen Scientists Like You Could Change How We Handle Iraq’s Humanitarian Crisis”

Categories: Citizen Science, Computers & Technology, Guest Contributor

Some Citizen Science Predictions [Guest Post]

Editor’s Note: This guest post by Chandra Clarke originally appeared on the author’s Citizen Science Center blog. Projects mentioned in this post including Loss of the Night, EteRNA and Sound Around You are all part of SciStarter’s ever growing project database. Find a citizen science project that tickles your fancy using the project finder! I’ve been covering the … Read more “Some Citizen Science Predictions [Guest Post]”

Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor

Celebrating the Next Generation of Bird Watchers [Guest Post]

This guest post by Sharman Apt Russel describes a citizen science experience with the children in her daughter’s third-grade classroom. the project, Celebrate Urban Birds was one of our Top 14 Projects of 2014. Check out the rest of the projects on that list here. Celebrate Urban Birds is also one of more than 800 citizen … Read more “Celebrating the Next Generation of Bird Watchers [Guest Post]”

Categories: Birds, Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Nature & Outdoors

Citizen participation in science at the Museum of Science in Boston

This is a guest post from David Sittenfeld, Manager, Forums at the Museum of Science, Boston. FIREFLIES, HEALTHIER CITIES, AND POLICY INPUT: CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE IN BOSTON At the Museum of Science in Boston, we’ve been exploring three flavors of citizen science over the last half-decade or so. We … Read more “Citizen participation in science at the Museum of Science in Boston”

Categories: Animals, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Guest Contributor, Nature & Outdoors

The Great Indoors: Sensing Carbon Monoxide Levels and Indoor Air Quality [GUEST POST]

Per the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 90% of their time indoors. At the same time, when we think of citizen science, our mind’s eye often pictures the great outdoors: wide expanses of open space, jutting mountains, birds in trees, and frogs sitting near meandering streams. In part, that’s due to a perception … Read more “The Great Indoors: Sensing Carbon Monoxide Levels and Indoor Air Quality [GUEST POST]”

Categories: Citizen Science, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Guest Contributor

UK Flooding – And What You Can Do About It [GUEST POST]

Thames Valley Sewer System overwhelmed and instrumentation destroyed, how you can contribute to water monitoring with citizen science. Flooding is not just a problem for residents and local businesses; it is also a major issue for the UK’s water companies. Throughout the closing months of 2013 and the start of the current year, England was … Read more “UK Flooding – And What You Can Do About It [GUEST POST]”

Categories: Guest Contributor, Ocean & Water