Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story

Join Jojo and her family counting bats as citizen scientists in the soon-to-be-released book Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story! You can read — and listen to — a free digital review copy today.  The story, written  by Philadelphia-area author Anna Forrester and illustrated by Susan Detwiler, encourages kids to get involved in citizen science and make it their … Read more “Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story”

Categories: Animals, Bats, Citizen Science, EarthSchool, Nature & Outdoors, Other

And the Squirrels Were Merry

I grew up in Fishtown, Philadelphia, an inner city grid of red-brick row homes, corner bars, candy shops, and barely-breathing factories. Fishtown was not known for its wildlife. There were birds. A wide variety, if two counts as a wide variety: big birds (pigeons) and small birds (sparrows). There were cats and an occasional dog … Read more “And the Squirrels Were Merry”

Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors, Other

From Pokémon to Pollinators: SciStarter’s Top 10 Posts of 2016

Every January, the SciStarter team begins the new year with a look back to the past. What kinds of stories did we tell in the past year, and which ones were our readers’ favorites? Below we’ve highlighted ten of our most popular posts from 2016. Check out what you might have missed and share with your friends! Augmented … Read more “From Pokémon to Pollinators: SciStarter’s Top 10 Posts of 2016”

Categories: Citizen Science, Other

Help Shape New Directions in Open Science: Vote for your favorite Innovation!

By: Elizabeth Kittrie, Senior Advisor for Data Science, National Institutes of Health In the spirit of open science – a movement to make data and other information from scientific research available to everyone — the National Institutes of Health invites you to cast your vote and help us decide which of the projects competing for … Read more “Help Shape New Directions in Open Science: Vote for your favorite Innovation!”

Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Health, Other

Quality and quantity with citizen science

Citizen science is a range of activities and projects through which people from all walks of life help advance scientific discovery. Citizen scientists bring science into the mainstream and make science relevant to their lives. As a scientist, I rely on citizen scientists as research collaborators. As a blogger, I’ve become a citizen science advocate … Read more “Quality and quantity with citizen science”

Categories: Citizen Science, Other

Citizen Science Isn’t Just About Collecting Data

Nonscientists should take part in discussions about research priorities and more. This article, Citizen Science Isn’t Just About Collecting Data, originally appeared in Slate AUG. 15 2016 7:31 AM. The earthquake near Washington, D.C., five years ago in August 2011—the one that damaged the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral but had little other noticeable impact—caught … Read more “Citizen Science Isn’t Just About Collecting Data”

Categories: In the News, Other

PocketLab + SciStarter = a [citizen] science lab that fits in your pocket.

PocketLab connects with a single button to a smart phone, tablet, Chromebook, or computer and instantly streams data that you can see and record. PocketLab measures motion, acceleration, angular velocity, magnetic field, pressure, altitude, and temperature. Using the PocketLab app, you can easily analyze your data, create graphs, and integrate your data with other software. … Read more “PocketLab + SciStarter = a [citizen] science lab that fits in your pocket.”

Categories: Citizen Science, Other, SciStarter News

Poké Around With Citizen Science

by Jennifer Cutraro By now, you’ve surely seen, heard about, or even joined the hordes of people wandering about outdoors,  phones held right in front of their faces. In the two weeks since Pokémon Go’s release, there’s been much ado about the game: how it gets people outdoors, how it promotes physical activity, how it’s … Read more “Poké Around With Citizen Science”

Categories: Animals, Apps, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Gaming, Nature & Outdoors, Other