Be A Citizen Scientist . . . Inside, Outside, and In Your Library!
Some people may think that their involvement in science ends when they are no longer being taught in a classroom. Not at all! There is a whole world of opportunities to learn, contribute, and to do science right now alongside your daily life!
Many people find community, passion, and growth by involving themselves in organizations, resources, and activities both online and in person all about learning and contributing to observing the world around them, recording the information publicly, and contributing to inferences that build up to momentous scientific discoveries. This type of science is called citizen science and millions of people already take part in it every day.
What type of science do you want to take part in?
Volunteer Your Time Online!
Many, many projects and scientific endeavors are slowed down by giant, disorganized collections of data. A great way to get involved is to volunteer your time and attention to sort through the chaos! These opportunities can be done entirely over the Internet, using a phone, ipad or laptop, even using the computers at the library.
These transcription projects only require access to the Internet, but familiarity with reading cursive handwriting is a huge help! Check out the book below if you’d like to learn more about reading and writing in cursive.
Spencerian Handwriting: The Complete Collection of Theory and Practical Workbooks For Perfect Cursive and Hand Lettering by Platt R. Spencer
Easy to understand yet challenging to perfect, the Spencerian system was the standard for all personal and business correspondence in the 1800s. While modern students are barely taught cursive, for more than a century schoolchildren were dutifully drilled in intricate penmanship using this original primer. Now you can follow the step-by-step instructions and practice on the included workbook pages to learn:- The seven Spencerian principles- Proper pen positioning- Finger and arm movement- Heights and widths of letters- Spacing between letters and words- Optional shading effects with Spencerian Handwriting, you can add a personal touch to all your handwritten letters and notes reminiscent of simpler, more elegant times.
- Never forget about Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia created and maintained by people just like you! Whether you help with creating a new page for a topic you love to research, or assist with copy-editing and proofreading new articles, you would be contributing to a great source of knowledge all around the world! For more information about navigating and exploring Wikipedia, check out the book below!
Inside Wikipedia: How it Works and How You Can Be Editor by Paul A. Thomas
In this book, Paul A. Thomas-a seasoned Wikipedia contributor who has accrued almost 60,000 edits since he started editing in 2007-breaks down the history of the free encyclopedia and explains the process of becoming an editor
- Help make discoveries in astronomy, physics, biology, and pretty much every other scientific topic through websites like Zooniverse! Zooniverse hosts many projects involving closely examining photographs and images in nature! If you’re interested in learning how to identify things like black holes and comets before volunteering with Zooniverse projects, take a look at the book below!
The Astronomy Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Observing and Understanding Stars, Planets, Galaxies, and The Universe by Govert Schilling
Examines “the night sky, the cosmos, and the universe, all in one easy-to-use and understand handbook.
Going Outside for Science!
- Identify the species of the different animals, plants, insects, and fungi that you see in your everyday life, and share that information with your local community and the world through apps like iNaturalist.
Especially in Maryland, there are tons of volunteering opportunities, especially when it comes to natural resources and Maryland’s many rivers and streams!
- Help your local watershed organization monitor water quality and the health of the plants and animals that depend on it! There are so many great watersheds and bodies of water in Maryland, and just as many opportunities to help take care of and research them! Check out the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ list of Watershed Associations that do great work monitoring water quality and the health of streams and animals!
- For more information and details about projects all over the country, take a look at the Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Catalog.
If you’d like to learn more about identifying the wildlife around you, check out the books below!
National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America by National Geographic
Essential for the estimated 62 million Americans who watch and feed birds in their backyards – from the experts at National Geographic and co-author of the popular and perennial best seller Field Guide to the Birds of North America. No matter where you live – in the country, city, a high-rise or house – this handy guide will quench your curiosity about the feathered creatures in your midst. It features 150 of the most common and interesting birds likely to be observed at backyard feeders, nesting nearby or just migrating through. An indispensable visual index of all 150 species appears on the inside front and back laminated covers, making identification a snap. Beginning with Backyard Basics, an easy-to-follow, richly illustrated presentation on observing and identifying birds – with tips on attracting and feeding your favorite birds, birdhouses, and bird-friendly landscapes to entice nesting – the book is full of National Geographic’s iconic field guide images and maps. Core species on everyone’s list – such as robins, woodpeckers, bluebirds and chickadees – are featured in two-page spreads including practical tips with additional imagery. Sidebars captivate with interesting and little known facts.
Wildflowers of North America: A Coast-to-Coast Guide to More Than 500 Flowering Plants by Damian Fagan
A field guide to 600 wildflowers found in North America, organized by color and alphabetically to enable wildflower enthusiasts and nature lovers to identify and learn about the natural and cultural history of flowering plants.
Science at the Library!
In addition to all the great resources available online and in your community, check out Citizen Science opportunities and resources through your local library! Keep an eye out for events and programs for all ages, or check out a Citizen Science Kit from the Lexington Park Library in St. Mary’s County!
Some of the Citizen Science kits that are available for anyone to check out are:
National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America by National Geographic
Essential for the estimated 62 million Americans who watch and feed birds in their backyards – from the experts at National Geographic and co-author of the popular and perennial best seller Field Guide to the Birds of North America. No matter where you live – in the country, city, a high-rise or house – this handy guide will quench your curiosity about the feathered creatures in your midst. It features 150 of the most common and interesting birds likely to be observed at backyard feeders, nesting nearby or just migrating through. An indispensable visual index of all 150 species appears on the inside front and back laminated covers, making identification a snap. Beginning with Backyard Basics, an easy-to-follow, richly illustrated presentation on observing and identifying birds – with tips on attracting and feeding your favorite birds, birdhouses, and bird-friendly landscapes to entice nesting – the book is full of National Geographic’s iconic field guide images and maps. Core species on everyone’s list – such as robins, woodpeckers, bluebirds and chickadees – are featured in two-page spreads including practical tips with additional imagery. Sidebars captivate with interesting and little known facts.
Wildflowers of North America: A Coast-to-Coast Guide to More Than 500 Flowering Plants by Damian Fagan
A field guide to 600 wildflowers found in North America, organized by color and alphabetically to enable wildflower enthusiasts and nature lovers to identify and learn about the natural and cultural history of flowering plants.
Check out some great books from the library to learn more about citizen science!
The Field Guide to Citizen Science: How You Can Contribute to Scientific Research and Make a Difference by Darlene Cavalier
Learn how monitoring the night sky, mapping trees, photographing dragonflies, and identifying mushrooms can help save the world! Citizen science is the public involvement in the discovery of new scientific knowledge. A citizen science project can involve one person or millions of people collaborating towards a common goal. It is an excellent option for anyone looking for ways to get involved and make a difference. The Field Guide to Citizen Science, from the expert team at SciStarter, provides everything you need to get started. You’ll learn what citizen science is, how to succeed and stay motivated when you’re participating in a project, and how the data is used. The fifty included projects, ranging from climate change to Alzheimer’s disease, endangered species to space exploration, mean sure-fire matches for your interests and time. Join the citizen science brigade now, and start making a real difference!
Citizen Science Guide For Families: Taking Part In Real Science by Greg Landgraf
People of all ages and backgrounds can discover how to contribute to real scientific research with this handy guide. It defines citizen science, providing an overview of the social and community aspects behind the idea. The book is organized by topic and features links to library resources and descriptions of books appropriate to the subject. In addition, a section devoted to ongoing citizen-science programs includes detailed descriptions for parents and children to identify projects appropriate to their interests, abilities, commitment levels, and locations. Accessible for the whole family, this invaluable resource provides the tools for building strong families as well as improving the global community.
There are many more citizen science projects open to anyone to participate in. Do you know of one that is not listed in this blog post? We’d love to hear your ideas, so please write to us and tell us what you’d recommend.
