Dunnn dun, dunnn dun, dunn dun dun, dun dun dun dun dundundundun …! 🦈
Maybe the shark from Jaws was just upset at all the plastic trash in the water? Either way, if we protect the water, we protect the sharks.
Find citizen projects below that guide you on making and sharing observations to help advance knowledge about our glorious oceans and all who inhabit them.
Let’s get back in the water,
The SciStarter Team
This one’s for anyone out on the ocean, whether you’re a surfer, boater, cruise traveler or anything else aquatic.
With the neat eOceans app, you can log any shark observations you make to tell researchers more about what kinds of sharks are where. The more data we have, the better we can protect these magnificent creatures!
Location: Global
Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems that protect coastlines and provide food. They’re vital to the health of the oceans.
NASA satellites take pictures to map coral reefs and determine how they’re doing, but your human eye is needed to confirm their presence.
You’ll learn how to classify coral reefs by using your finger to “paint” on online satellite images of coral to train computers to do a better job of automatically classifying them.
Location: Online
Marine trash is still a big danger to wildlife around the world, as sea creatures get hopelessly stuck in tangles of plastic and metal.
Volunteers in the southeast U.S. can help by reporting observations of wildlife stuck in human trash so wildlife agencies can study the impacts of marine trash and devise new plans to help mitigate its effects.
Location: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Tide pools are fascinating ecosystems containing a wealth of marine species. And better yet, they’re super easy to observe!
With this new project from iNaturalist, volunteers in California can explore local tide pools, snap photos and tell researchers what they found there.
For a crash course in tide pool species, check out the accompanying free course:Â Introduction to Tide pool Biology for Citizen Scientists
Location: California
Water is a shared global resource, and it takes all of us to make sure it stays clean! With Earth Echo Water Challenge, you’ll use a simple test kit to measure basic water quality parameters: temperature, pH, clarity (turbidity) and dissolved oxygen.
Your results get added to a global database that others can use for projects to protect and preserve water around the world.
Location: Global
This book, from award-winning marine biologist and citizen science project leader Dr. David Shiffman guides you on how — and why — we should protect these “mysterious, misunderstood guardians of the ocean.”
From the instructional designers at Arizona State University and the citizen science experts at SciStarter! Sharpen your skills to earn badges that verify the specific skills you acquired.
94% of people said our trainings increased their awareness, understanding and interest in citizen science “a great deal.” Most people reported more confidence completing citizen science tasks, including collecting and analyzing data.
Beat the summer heat by taking a refreshing dip into an ocean of marine citizen science activities, including swimming with sharks, chatting with manatees and sleuthing out sea dragons. Projects featured in this podcast include: eShark, Wildbook for Whale Sharks and Manatee Chat!
July 27, 2022, 8:30-10:00 PM EDT online event
Insect populations are disappearing around the world, driven by habitat loss and degradation, pesticide use, climate change, diseases and more. The executive director of the invertebrate conservation group the Xerces Society, will discuss how nature-based solutions can protect biodiversity.
Discover more citizen science on the SciStarter calendar. Did you know your SciStarter dashboard helps you track your contributions to projects? Complete your profile to access free tools. Want even more citizen science? Check out SciStarter’s Project Finder! With citizen science projects spanning every field of research, task and age group, there’s something for everyone!
