Here’s your chance to be part of science history! In the video below, Andy Farke and Matt Wedel introduce the Open Dinosaur Project, a collaborative research effort to develop a database of dinosaur bone measurements. The best part? You don’t need formal scientific training, a background in research, or even to have seen the Jurassic […]

There is definitely no breed of citizen scientist more enthusiastic and dedicated than bird watchers. The results of last weekend’s birding binge are now being tallied on the Great Backyard Bird Count website—and they are mighty impressive. Here are some highlights: Total checklists submitted: 81,590 Total species observed: 582 Total individual birds counted: 9,443,847 Even […]

This morning, a friend sent me a link to an article from Kid Gardening.org, a site that “helps young minds grow”.  The article, Engaging Students through Citizen Science , highlights the benefits–to educators AND students–of participating in citizen science projects: [Students] think and act like scientists as they make careful observations, ask their own questions, […]

Yesterday, New Scientist magazine announced the latest project in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence: SETI Quest: SETIQuest is the product of astronomer Jill Tarter’s TED Prize wish. After being awarded the TED Prize last year, Tarter was given the opportunity to make a single wish before an auditorium full of the top names in technology […]

National Lab Day is the brain child of Jack Hidary who wants to improve science, technology, engineering, and math education in the U.S.A. Through National Lab Day, scientists are matched with teachers in need of their intellectual capital. Much like you–citizen scientists–are lending your brains to science, scientists participating in National Lab Day are lending […]

Get those binoculars out: The Great Backyard Bird Count 2010 takes place this Friday through next Monday, February 12 to 15. In as little as 15 minutes a day, you can help scientists learn how climate, disease, and habitat changes are affecting bird populations. Plus, you’ll have fun checking out your backyard visitors. The bird […]

Things have been a little squirrely in the last several days, what with the hiccups and ugly error messages that greeted a few selected members. Sorry about that. But now our intrepid engineer, Daniel, has set things straight again. Scientists and organizers of citizen science projects, you can once more reliably share your programs with […]

New to bird watching? Professor Stuart Pimm talks us through the basics in this video. Many bird watchers share their observations with researchers in an effort to learn about and protect these  little critters that are so important to our ecology.  If you’re interested in getting involved in bird watching to help science, you’ll find […]

As long as you’re making observations, recording data, and learning all this cool stuff as a citizen scientist, why not brag about it with a Science for Citizens Web badge? To create your own badge that declares your areas of specialty, just go to MyPage (if you’re not already a member of Science for Citizens, […]

Just back from a visit to Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Lab. Fascinating developments taking place there, not the least of which includes a number of citizen science initiatives! First up: ChargeCar! This project, part of a series of community-based applied research activities coming out of CMU’s CommunityRobotics.org,  is asking you to share your daily commute […]