Informal Education 101: What is citizen science?

July 16, 1:50 PMInformal Education ExaminerLisa Jo Rudy

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Informal Education Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Even young kids can become citizen scientists

No, you don't have to hold a doctorate to "do science."  In fact, kids as young as five and six years old are already taking part in real, meaningful citizen science projects.

Citizen scientists count birds, monitor streams, explore coral reefs and observe the skies.  Then they add their observations and findings to databases that are used to make sense of Earth's processes.  With enough citizen involvement, organizations like the Cornell Ornithology Labs have been able to learn a great deal about bird migration, biodiversity, and habitats.  The information kids and parents are collecting as citizen scientists really makes a difference.

Citizen science projects are usually projects created by research institutions along with informal science education institutions such as science museums or science education programs based at universities and organizations like National Geographic.  Here are just a few you might want to check out:

The Great Backyard Bird Count -- anyone can get involved in this international study of biodiversity and migration 

Rain, Hail and Snow Network -- what's the weather really doing?  Is it changing?  How much rain fell in your neighborhood?  Kids and adults can join this project.

Spacehack -- love watching the sky?  Here are all kinds of projects you can join to get involved in the real work of astronomical observation and much more.   

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!