Teachers Take on Citizen Science to Enhance Problem-Based Learning

Imagine a world in which students learn science and solve problems through contributing to real research with the help of a teacher’s guiding hand. In this world, students build confidence in collecting and identifying data, experience the scientific method through play, and participate in real research. Lucky for the students in Broward County Public Schools … Read more “Teachers Take on Citizen Science to Enhance Problem-Based Learning”

Categories: Education, Events

Five people with arms raised stand on a snow-capped mountain peak. They are collecting snow depth measurements.

From Backcountry to Backyard: Community Snow Observations Wants Your Snow Depth Measurements

Katreen Wikstrom Jones’ strongest memories from her winters growing up in Stockholm, Sweden are building snow tunnels on her porch. For the past ten years, Wikstrom Jones has been in Alaska, working for the state as a cryosphere hazard scientist. She originally got into snow science because she loves skiing, she says, and today snow … Read more “From Backcountry to Backyard: Community Snow Observations Wants Your Snow Depth Measurements”

Categories: Climate & Weather

Map the World’s Coral Reefs for NASA with NeMO-Net

“Our coral reefs are in danger … we need your help.” When new players log on to NASA’s NeMO-Net, they’re greeted with a video message from oceanographer Sylvia Earle. “Your mission is to take command of a research vessel, and travel the world collecting data on the ocean,” she says. Warming temperatures, rising sea levels … Read more “Map the World’s Coral Reefs for NASA with NeMO-Net”

Categories: Apps, Ecology & Environment, Ocean & Water

Louisiana’s Wetlands are Vanishing. Researchers Need Your Help Tracking the Loss

Along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, the Mississippi River Delta boasts one of the largest and most productive ecosystems on Earth. Every year, the delta provides some $12 to 47 billion in benefits to locals and beyond in the form of hurricane and flood protection, fisheries, recreation, water supply, water quality, and more. As if that weren’t … Read more “Louisiana’s Wetlands are Vanishing. Researchers Need Your Help Tracking the Loss”

Categories: Environment

How a Christmas Tradition has Helped Track Billions of Vanishing Birds

Every year around Christmas time, tens of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers gather in familiar locations across the Western Hemisphere for a tradition that dates back more than a century. On select days between December 14 and January 5, volunteers with the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count take a census of every bird they see … Read more “How a Christmas Tradition has Helped Track Billions of Vanishing Birds”

Categories: Animals, Other

Watching plants with Project Budburst

Guest Post by Sarah Jones Learn more about Budburst on SciStarter. Link to https://scistarter.org/budburst Join Communities Across the World in Observing Plant Life Cycles – Any Plant, Any Place, Any Time! I haven’t always loved plants. I loved the animals that took shelter in branches, eating leaves and fruits. I loved the lake surrounded by trees … Read more “Watching plants with Project Budburst”

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

Track Four Emerging Climate Hazards Near You

This post was originally published as a SciStarter newsletter. Sign up to receive bi-weekly citizen science in your inbox! Earth’s climate is undergoing change that poses multiple threats. The science community seeks your help in tracking four emerging climate hazards: sea-level rise, extreme temperatures, droughts and floods. Your safety always comes first. Please only participate in … Read more “Track Four Emerging Climate Hazards Near You”

Categories: Climate & Weather, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter

Human Impact: Climate Change and Citizen Science

This blog post is an edited excerpt from Human Impact, a new publication from Science Connected. Edited by Kate Stone and Shayna Keyles, Human Impact delivers 17 true tales of how humanity has changed the Earth, for better or for worse. This chapter appears in Human Impact as “Act Now: Engaging in Citizen Science,” and includes contributions … Read more “Human Impact: Climate Change and Citizen Science”

Categories: Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Environment