Citizen Science for Beginners
With school in full swing, now is the perfect time to learn more about citizen science and how you and your family can get involved – at home or abroad.
Photos by Colin + Meg.
Citizen science may sound like a hefty term, but it’s really quite simple.
In the words of Nat Geo, any project “in which volunteers and scientists work together to answer real-world questions and gather data” falls into the category of citizen science. Contributing to these projects can take countless forms, from snapping a photo and uploading it to the internet to volunteering to help grow oysters. It can be a routine activity or a one-time occurrence. With Earth Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time to learn more about citizen science and how you and your family can get involved – at home or abroad.
On any old hike, stroll, or trip to the park, plant and animal sightings often mark the most memorable moments of the experience. Observing wildlife draws our attention out of our heads and into the larger world around us. This often inspires us to take a photo. Maybe the photo makes it onto social media or into a loved one’s inbox. Most citizen science projects revolve around the act of uploading that photo of nature, not to a social media platform per se, but to a database instead.
This image (or bird call recording, to give another example) might feed into studies on population counts, migration tracking, weather pattern analysis, or even astronomy projects, and help scientists gather precious data otherwise out of their resource reach. As Scistarter co-founder Caren Cooper explains in her Tedx Talk, hobby scientists perform a vital role in professional science. In her example, crowd-sourced samples taken by sailors from 13 different countries helped scientists develop Oceanography in the 1800s, mapping wind and current patterns to make travel by sea safer and more predictable. This feat would have been impossible without the help of the sailors.
The more professional scientists collaborate with willing citizens, the more comprehensive their studies will be. Data and feedback collected from citizen scientists might even lead to new questions, new studies, or a groundbreaking discovery. You never know. Every citizen scientist brings a different point of view to the table. And kids have a knack for thinking way outside of the box:
“Kids often make great citizen scientists because they tend to be curious and good at following precise directions. Sometimes they’re even better at these things than adults. And schools are convenient places for scientists to recruit big groups of helpers.”
While kids are great for citizen science, citizen science is also great for kids. We know from the growing field of awe research and other studies just how important it is for everyone – but especially for children – to spend time outside and to interact with nature. Citizen science is a great way to approach outdoor play, a new lens through which to view the world.
“Through citizen science, children experience and explore the process of inquiry and scientific investigation. It’s experiential learning that helps kids become invested in the topic at hand.”
Experimenting with citizen science is hands-on, it’s eye-opening, it’s educational, and it gives children a sense of both responsibility and empowerment. Introducing young minds to citizen science early demystifies an otherwise intimidating discipline. Perhaps it will inspire them to go into STEM themselves one day, or perhaps it will simply provide them with new experiences, teach them new skills, and instill in them the first seeds of ecoliteracy.
Websites We Love
Scistarter.org is user-friendly overview and an easily searchable database of projects available— search projects in your area ranging from archeology to insects and pollinators.
iNaturalist Lovingly called “iNAt” by its users, this app allows you to point and shoot a photo of say, a slug crawling up one of the plants in your backyard, and share with a database of scientists around the world. Pretty cool.
National Geographic has a great curated scrollable starter list of worldwide projects— everything from a butterfly census to water monitoring studies.
Heyterra’s Citizen Science Reccs
For birdlovers, join nestwatch.org
For stargazers, check out Galaxy Zoo.
For ocean protectors, scroll the Reef Citizen Science Alliance or join Surfrider for beach cleanups and plastic monitoring.
For future archeologists, Scistarter has a great collection of projects around the world to “dig in” to.
Books
For those interested in reading more about citizen science offline, books are another great way for both adults and children to educate themselves before heading out into the field. Loree Griffin Burns’ Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard caters to older kids, offering easy to grasp explanations, concrete examples, and beautiful photography to boot. The Field Guide to Citizen Science, written by the founders of Scistarter.org, is another great primer for ages eight and up including a more detailed list of ongoing projects that citizen scientists can contribute to. Last but not least, Sandi Schwartz approaches the topic from a mental health perspective in her new book, Finding Ecohappiness. According to Schwartz, engaging in citizen science is just one of many ways to get kids to spend more time in nature, thereby lowering their levels of stress and anxiety. Younger kids can learn more about the healing powers of nature in Schwartz’s companion picture book, Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness.
Citizen Science on the Road
We love citizen science because it is such an easy activity to integrate into our daily lives. Plus, diving into the natural world in such a specific way can almost feel like being transported to a different place. But citizen science also translates into an awesome, awe-inspiring family activity when traveling, whether as a bonus addition to the itinerary or the main event.
Seasoned and burgeoning citizen scientists alike can use the same iNaturalist app they use at home to search for projects anywhere in the world and start uploading photos or sound clips. Pro tip: get as close to your subject as you can without endangering yourself or the wildlife. The larger and clearer the image, the easier it will be for professional scientists to confirm and identify the findings.
For a more immersive experience, travelers can join an expedition such as a boat trip with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Families with kids 12 and older can help out on this archaeological dig in northern England. And anyone curious about the rainforest will love the science-themed stays at the Refugio Amazonas in Peru where guests have the chance to find and name their own species. Lastly, the emerging field of rewilding travel provides tourists with the opportunity to spot, identify, and document flora and fauna in their natural habitat while supporting the regeneration of wild ecosystems in Europe and beyond.
