Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
By Kristin Butler, Jun 30, 2018
Hitting the trails for the long holiday weekend? Here’s a citizen science project you can contribute if you’re exploring the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch all the way from Georgia to Maine. Happy trails! ~The SciStarter Editorial Team Hikers in the Appalachian mountains contribute data and help researchers learn how climate change is affecting plants living … Read more “Hiking in the Appalachian Mountains? Here’s How You Can Contribute to Science While You’re At It”
Categories: Citizen Science, Environment
By Kristin Butler, Nov 22, 2017
I used to think of birds as delicate creatures, airy and carefree, with pretty feathers and pretty songs. Then I saw the film “Winged Migration” and came to understand just how gritty and daring these lovely creatures really are. The film uses bird’s-eye footage to document the treacherous treks birds across the globe make each … Read more “Exploring the wonder of birds through the Migratory Shorebird Project”
Categories: Animals, Birds, Project Profile
By Guest Contributor, May 23, 2017
While publications proliferate on the subject of citizen science, an introduction to inform and delight all readers has been conspicuously absent until Caren Cooper’s new book, Citizen Science: How Ordinary People Are Changing the Face of Discovery hit the shelves this spring. … Read more
Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Citizen Science News
By Carolyn Graybeal, Apr 20, 2017
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
By Catherine Price, Mar 23, 2017
On Saturday, March 25, join hundreds of millions of people around the world and turn off your lights for one hour to show your commitment to the planet, the starry night sky and our collective fight against climate change and light pollution. Participate in Globe at Night before, during and after Earth Hour (Saturday, March … Read more “Globe at Night and Earth Hour: two causes with a common goal”
Categories: Citizen Science, Events
By Guest Contributor, Mar 15, 2017
By Lishka Arata, Conservation Educator at Point Blue Despite the current administration’s efforts to roll back the Clean Water Act and dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency, interest and participation is growing in a new EPA- and stakeholder-led citizen science project that aims to inform clean water management. The Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative has been gathering steam … Read more “Collaborative Citizen Science for Clean Water Management”
Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Guest Contributor, Project Profile
By Eva Lewandowski, Mar 02, 2017
Many scientists rely on “small data” from volunteers to understand local and global weather patterns and climate change. Collectively, the data are used to calibrate weather instruments on NASA satellites, or by the National Weather Service to refine forecasts or flood warnings. Below, we highlight five projects turning small data into big impacts. You can … Read more “Citizen Science to track weather and climate change”
Categories: Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Newsletter
By Sharman Apt Russell, Oct 11, 2016
We tend to think of famine in human terms. But animal populations also experience wide-spread hunger, and the hundreds of emaciated young seals and sea lions stranded on California beaches in the past year were a poignant example. Fortunately, a large team of citizen scientists at The Marine Mammal Center—an animal hospital and research institute … Read more “Saving California’s Seals and Sea Lions”
Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Project Profile
By Carolyn Graybeal, May 09, 2015
From shoveling the third heavy snowfall of winter to spotting the first crocus of spring, each day without fail we experience our environment. Meaning each of us is a potential wealth of information about our local environment. Information that if gathered could inform climate scientists about the local effects and potential indicators of climate change. … Read more “iSeeChange: documenting the weather around us”
Categories: Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors
By Ian Vorster, Mar 31, 2015
Interested in more spring themed citizen science projects? Check out the ones the SciStarter team has handpicked for you here! Or use SciStarter’s project finder to find one that piques your curiosity! In 1998 Tim Sparks, a research biologist at Britain’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Cambridge started a pilot project designed to record … Read more “Is Climate Change Causing the Seasons to Change? Citizen Scientists in the UK Help Find Out with Nature’s Calendar”
Categories: Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors
