Celebrating the citizen in citizen science

I believe that citizen science is about citizenship as well as science. By this, I don’t mean citizenship in a specific country, but in a larger community. As a citizen scientist focusing on the natural world, I become a better citizen of that world—the world of tree frogs, say, or hummingbirds or dragonflies. Citizen science makes … Read more “Celebrating the citizen in citizen science”

Categories: Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Project Profile

Saving California’s Seals and Sea Lions

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

Citizen scientist divers help track the success of artificial reefs.

  This is a guest post by Michael Bear Citizen Science Project Director at Ocean Sanctuaries.  In this post, he describes a citizen science led effort to catalog marine life living in and around the HMCS Yukon. In 2000, the Yukon was transformed into an artificial reef as part of San Diego’s  marine conservation effort.   In 2000, … Read more “Citizen scientist divers help track the success of artificial reefs.”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water

COASST: Monitoring seabirds of the Pacific Northwest

Identify beached birds and help monitor the health of the coastal ecosystem. Looking for more summertime citizen science projects? Find them here.                 Do you enjoy long walks on the beach while taking in the surrounding wildlife? Are you concerned about environmental issues and passionate about community projects? … Read more “COASST: Monitoring seabirds of the Pacific Northwest”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Learn how climate change affects plant life with AMC Mountain Watch

Track phenology events in Appalachian mountains and contribute to climate change research with Mountain Watch! Want more spring citizen science? We’ve got you covered through April showers and May flowers. There is nothing more rewarding than taking in the view from above tree-line. A challenging hike always seems like a distant memory after gazing upon the landscape … Read more “Learn how climate change affects plant life with AMC Mountain Watch”

Categories: Biology, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Geology & Earth Sciences, Nature & Outdoors

Tiny Woolly Terrors: The Attack of the Adelgid

If you’re looking for more projects for the holiday season, we’ve got 12 Days of Citizen Science for you! Don’t forget to check out the public radio segment about Tiny Terrors on WHYY’s The Pulse! The Grinch is back and this time in the form of a tiny insect invader. Meanwhile, scientists are looking for … Read more “Tiny Woolly Terrors: The Attack of the Adelgid”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment

Citizen Science in Puerto Rico

Citizen science is taking off in Puerto Rico! According to a story at Ciencia PR, citizen scientists are playing an important role in the conservation efforts for the Hacienca La Esperanza Reserve, which houses the only coastal forest in Northern Puerto Rico. Through the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust’s Citizen Science Program, volunteers have the opportunity to explore and observe the … Read more “Citizen Science in Puerto Rico”

Categories: Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, In the News, Science Education Standards

Start spotting sharks for science!

Da-dum … da-dum … Don’t look now, but there are  researchers hoping you’ll hop in shark-infested waters in the name of science! Members of ECOCEAN want your help photographing whale sharks on your next ocean outing. Your pictures will be uploaded to the ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library, a photographic database of whale shark (Rhincodon … Read more “Start spotting sharks for science!”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water

Conversations about conservation: public participation in scientific research

Energy is a strange thing.  It floats around you, fills you up until you’re about ready to burst, and then it skips off, leaving you to keep up as best you can.  Last Thursday and Friday were two full days of such energy, when 60 professionals from such exotic places as Alaska, Colombia and New … Read more “Conversations about conservation: public participation in scientific research”

Categories: Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, In the News, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Science Education Standards, Science Policy

The importance of thinking scientifically

What does it mean to think scientifically? If you asked me this question when I first moved back to New York three years ago, I’m quite positive I would have said something like, “What do I know? I’m not a scientist,” and pointed the questioner in the direction of the nearest pocket-protecting nerd in the … Read more “The importance of thinking scientifically”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Biology, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Physics, Science Education Standards