Citizen Science Projects
When people think of science research, and the people who conduct this type of research,
they primarily think of very serious and studious people in white coats, continually watching test tubes, computer screens, or looking through telescopes or microscopes. However, this type of scientific research is limited by the number of specially-trained scientists available, as well as the amount of scientific grants given each year to fund this research.
Amateur and citizen scientists help professional scientists by providing more data and observations, in many more locations, than than would be possible for a professional research program.
Over centuries, amateur astronomers have made several major discoveries, due to their proliferation around the world and ability to be observing at all hours of the night. In 2003, Berto Monard of South Africa became the first amateur astronomer to discover an afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, the most powerful explosion known in the Universe.
Amateur astronomers have also discovered comets and stars, often with equipment they build themselves. And, through their detailed observations and astrophotography they have been able to provide scientists with information that would unavailable any other way.
See:
"Total Amateurs Discover 'Green Pea' Galaxies."
Yahoo/Space.com 2009 July 28.
And:
More information.
Citizen Science projects are not new. The longest-running Citizen Science project was started by the
National Audubon Society in 1900:
Christmas Bird Count.
The following is a listing of current Citizen Science projects that welcome the assistance of citizen scientists, particularly children. Each entry includes a hyper-link where further information about that project is available.
Citizen Science Projects -- Help Make Better Science !
Astronomy/Space Sciences Citizen Science Projects
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American Association of Variable Star Observers - Network of amateur astronomers volunteering their time for scientific research - recording observations of variable stars.
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International Occultation Timing Association - Network of amateur astronomers volunteering their time for scientific research - recording observations of lunar and other occultations.
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Globe at Night - Light pollution awareness project.
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Great World Wide Star Count (in October of each year) - This international event encourages everyone to go outside, look skywards after dark, count the stars they see in certain constellations, and report what they see on-line.
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ClickWorkers, NASA - Volunteers help NASA by identifying and cataloging craters, and other terrain and landforms on planetary bodies such as Mars, by looking through photographs taken by NASA spacecraft.
More information.
*
Galaxy Zoo - On-line Astronomy project, where volunteers help to classify galaxies in space.
More information.
*
SETI@home - When your Internet-connected computer is not being used, have the computer help search for radio signals coming from extraterrestial civilizations on other planets in the galaxy!
More information.
*
Stardust@home, NASA - Volunteers help NASA to look for tiny interstellar dust impacts by searching photographs taken by
NASA's Stardust Spacecraft.
More information.
Bird Watch Citizen Science Projects
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Birds In Forested Landscapes, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Gathers information to help learn the habitat and conservation needs of forest-dwelling birds throughout North America.
*
BirdSleuth, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology -
Citizen Science specifically for middle school-aged students.
*
CamClickr/
NestCams
virtual citizen science project, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - On-line, volunteers look at archived bird images to help scientists by classifying bird breeding behaviors.
*
Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society - An annual count or census of birds seen by citizen volunteers, during the Christmas holidays (begun in 1900).
More information.
*
Celebrate Urban Birds, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Ten-minute bird observations in your urban neighborhood.
*
eBird, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Bird Watchers contribute their observations to a worldwide database that helps scientists learn more about the many species of birds.
More information.
*
The Great Backyard Bird Count, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Annual four-day event (count can be as short as 15 minutes on one day), to provide scientists with a "snapshot" of where birds are in North America at that one time in February.
*
House Finch Disease Survey, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Opportunity for members of the general public to help scientists track the spread of bird disease.
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Nestwatch, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Monitoring bird nests to help learn more about bird breeding biology.
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Priority Migrant ebird, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Collect information regarding migratory birds of conservation concern.
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Project FeederWatch, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Winter-long survey of birds who visit backyard and community bird feeders, to learn about Winter bird habits, populations, and long-term trends.
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Project PigeonWatch, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology - Watch and learn more about pigeons in your neighborhood.
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North American Bird Phenology Program - The North American Bird Phenology Program houses a unique and largely forgotten collection of six million Migration Observer Cards that illuminate migration patterns and population status of birds in North America. The information from this analysis will provide critical information on bird distribution, migration timing and migration pathways and how they are changing.
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Chimney Swifts - Help study and promote the conservation of Chimney Swifts.
*
Encyclopedia of Life - Help
build the comprehensive on-line Encyclopedia of Life.
National Audubon Society ***
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Butterfly/Firefly/Other Insects Citizen Science Projects
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Monarch Watch (Monarch Butterflies), Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas.
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Firefly Watch, Museum of Science, Boston - Help scientists count fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, in the late Spring and early Summer. You can help scientists determine if fireflies are disappearing.
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The Great Sunflower Project - By watching and recording the bees at sunflowers in your garden, you can help us understand the challenges that bees are facing.
*
Lost Ladybug Project, Cornell University.
*
Encyclopedia of Life - Help
build the comprehensive on-line Encyclopedia of Life.
Citizen Science Projects - Other Animals
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Project Squirrel - Just by taking a closer look at squirrel behavior we can all learn a lot from these furry urban inhabitants.
*
Encyclopedia of Life - Help
build the comprehensive on-line Encyclopedia of Life.
Flowers/Plants Citizen Science Projects
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Project Budburst - Project BudBurst engages the public in making careful observations of the phenophases such as first leafing, first flower, and first fruit ripening of a diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses in their local area.
*
The Great Sunflower Project - By watching and recording the bees at sunflowers in your garden, you can help us understand the challenges that bees are facing.
^
Encyclopedia of Life - Help
build the comprehensive on-line Encyclopedia of Life.
Weather/Environment Citizen Science Projects
*
SKYWARN Weather Spotters, National Weather Service, U.S. Department of Commerce - SKYWARN Weather Spotters watch out for severe weather in their neighborhood and report severe conditions to the local National Weather Service office by toll-free telephone number, amateur radio, or electronic mail.
More information.
*
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, Colorado Climate Center, Colorado State University - Network of volunteer weather watchers who report precipitation, which helps in weather forecasting, monitoring, and climate studies.
More information.
*
World Water Monitoring Day (September 18) - Monitor local bodies of water to help scientists protect world water resources.
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