Children naturally observe the world around them. They notice the first bloom of the season and watch bees at work collecting pollen. This natural observant quality makes tasks such as monitoring, counting, and reporting an easy and engaging one for many children.
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen scientists are volunteers of all ages who help scientists and organizations with field research tasks such as observation, measurement, and data collection. When kids collaborate with other volunteers, they gaining hands-on experience and a greater understanding of the scientific concepts, tools, and technology scientists use in the field.
Several organizations rely on the eyes and ears of citizen scientists. Making a contribution to real scientific research can give children a sense of importance and purpose, especially when that research goes to benefit a favorite insect, animal, or professional.
How to Find and Join a Citizen Science Project
Science for Citizens helps volunteers locate informal recreational activities and formal research projects classified by interest, location, difficulty, and age, including
- creating a dinosaur database
- locating invasive plants
- observing clouds
- measuring rain and snow
- mapping graveyards
Project activities range from making observations of weather and wildlife to answering questions in psychological studies. Many projects are suitable for children, families, and groups.
Citizen Science: Plants and Wildlife
Each year, participants in the Great Sunflower Project document bee pollination. The Project sends out Lemon Queen sunflower seeds. Participants plant the seeds and count bees that visit the mature flowers. The data collected by citizen scientist volunteers helps the Project develop plans for protecting threatened native bees.
Through a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Celebrate Urban Birds citizen scientist volunteers can celebrate urban birds by collecting and sending data on to help scientists understand the value of urban green areas for birds. The research kit includes a color poster of 16 urban birds.
Through the National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Watch program, people of all ages can participate in helping NWF and partners track the health and behavior of plants and wildlife across the nation. The nature-watching program runs year round.
Citizen Science: Weather and Astronomy
Solar scientists at Solar Stormwatch invite volunteers to help them locate and track explosions on the Sun. The data collected by citizen scientists will warn astronauts if dangerous radiation heads their way. Participants can share and discuss findings in the Solar Stormwatch forums. Special resources are available for teachers including lesson plans and activities, workshops and courses, forums and links.
Astronomers at Galaxy Zoo need help exploring the universe. Volunteer citizen scientists can help classify images of galaxies taken during the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to help astronomers understand how the galaxies formed.
From the backyard to the heavens, young citizen scientists can use their natural powers of observation to make a difference in the world.
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Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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