Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
In-depth posts on one or more projects
By Amy Sterling Four years ago a citizen science game called Eyewire hatched from Seung Lab, then at MIT and now at Princeton. Its goal was to pair up gamers with a challenge that has been bottlenecking neuroscience for decades: mapping the brain. Over the years the project grew. Hundreds of thousands of people helped, … Read more “Science Heroes at Work”
Categories: Citizen Science, Gaming, Project Profile
By: Nina Friedman When I hit a mental roadblock while I’m working, moving always helps. I can’t keep my brain moving unless my body is moving. I might get up from my desk and take a little walk but if I’m in a time crunch I’ll just fidget around in my chair or tap out … Read more “Describe Your Desk Doohickey for Fidget Widget!”
Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Project Profile
This article was originally posted on August 21, 2013 but we thought this project provided a great way to celebrate World Oceans Day even if you can’t make it to the beach! Calling all citizen scientists! It doesn’t matter where you are. You can still be an ‘honorary’ diver to help with this project. The … Read more “Participate in Citizen Science to Celebrate World Oceans Day”
Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Ocean & Water, Project Profile
Today is National Repeat Day and what better way to celebrate than to publish an older post? A recent article in Astrophysical Journal Letters has shown that citizen scientists have just discovered the first brown dwarf through the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project just four weeks after the project launched back in February. Now, isn’t that worth repeating? … Read more “Read, Participate, Discover, Repeat”
Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Project Profile
New and exponentially increasing amounts of biomedical research can yield valuable insight into rare diseases, cures, devices, procedures, and more. This growth, however, can sometimes overwhelm scientists and the public alike: the amount of scientific research published in 2014 was more than triple the amount published in 1990, and this trend continues today. While this … Read more “The Science of Hidden Connections”
Categories: Citizen Science, Health, Project Profile
With the summer approaching, so are the mosquitoes. Now a UN-backed global platform will align citizen scientists from around the world to track and control these disease-carrying species. By Yujia He Mosquitoes are an annoying and unavoidable part of the warmer season. Their constant buzzing follows you whenever you step outside of your house, and the … Read more “Global Mosquito Alert: UN Backed Citizen Science Platform to Fight Mosquito-Borne Diseases”
Categories: Citizen Science, Health, Project Profile
By Nina Friedman For decades, fair- and festival-goers around the country have volunteered to step right up and have a carnival busker guess their age. Now, guessing someone’s age through citizen science can contribute to research in the social and computer sciences and medicine, too. Everyday scientists and medical professionals are creating lifespan increasing technologies. … Read more “Step right up and guess their age — for citizen science!”
Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Project Profile
Citizen scientists learn how algorithms affect their online shopping and help researchers break open the “black box” of price-personalization By Chelsey Meyer Have you ever wondered whether you see the same online prices as other consumers? If not, you may want to after hearing about price personalization. While many Internet users may understand that algorithms … Read more “Citizen Scientists Donate Data for Online Price Personalization Research”
Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Project Profile
River Keeper. Watershed Keeper. There’s something poetic—maybe a bit Celtic—about these terms, which in the world of citizen science refer to someone monitoring a waterway for soil erosion, contaminants, and loss of biodiversity. Across the United States, with sonorous names like Willamette River Keepers and Chattahoochee River Keepers, citizen scientists are keeping watch over the … Read more “River Keeping in New Mexico”
Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Project Profile
Public engagement is critical to address the challenges of climate change, a complex issue with environmental, social, political and economic ramifications. Common forms of public engagement include public events such as science festivals or café informal settings for experts to share their knowledge with the community. Or public policy forums where community members voice concerns … Read more “Engaging the public to tackle climate change”
Categories: Citizen Science, Project Profile
