What is Citizen Science?
Do you remember the days of catching and observing lightning bugs? Have you ever observed an eclipse through a telescope? Are you curious about the natural world but never attended those extra science classes? Well, scientist or not, you can participate in exciting scientific research around the world—no need to travel to a far-flung location like Borneo, don a HAZMAT suit, or submit to experimental trials. The idea of "citizen science" has gained momentum in the last few years, and who better to champion this lifelong learning initiative than the New York Public Library?
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen science begins with a real scientific inquiry from professional scientists. Each project has a concrete purpose and regular citizens can help gather and analyze information to aid in the results of the study. Hobbyists and enthusiasts have participated, most notably, in star finding, bird counting, and weather tracking. The advent of the internet made it easier and faster for researchers to train thousands of volunteers at the same time, check data against each other, and collect, organize, and analyze that data.
Today, projects range from identifying sound pollution in your area to swabbing your belly button for microbes. NYPL has forms of citizen (library) with several science projects and initiatives. Perhaps you've helped transcribe for the project "What’s on the Menu"? Or you've helped identify buildings and details on old maps with Building Inspector, or listen to interesting stories and quality check transcriptions with the Community Oral History Project.
The Butterfly Effect
One of the largest and most well-known citizen science projects is all about butterflies. Monarch butterflies have been a topic of interest since 1940 when Fred and Norah Urquhart, researchers at the University of Minnesota, decided to gather data from all over the northern United States to get a clear idea of the migration of the monarchs. How could they collect data across this vast continent? By crowdsourcing—enlisting the help of community volunteers. Even young children could participate in the project by catching the butterflies in nets. The volunteer would then tag the butterfly and release it so it could be found at its final destination (Mexico).
In 1997, monarch butterflies appeared in research again. This time, they were in danger, with numbers dropping due to habitat damage by pesticides and a changing climate. Citizen scientists were tasked with collecting data on larval monarch populations and milkweed habitats. This project is still in action 22 years later! You can learn more and participate at the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) website.
To find a wide range of citizen science projects for all ages, explore some of these sites:
To read more about citizen science, check out or reserve one of these books:
Citizen Science: How Ordinary People Are Changing the Face of Discovery by Caren Cooper
The Incidental Steward: Reflections on Citizen Science by Akiko Busch
Reinventing Discovery: The New Era of Networked Science by Michael A. Nielsen
From Here to Infinity: A Vision for the Future of Science by Martin Rees
Citizen Science: Public Participation in Environmental Research
Get the kids involved in citizen science!
Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard by Loree Griffins Burns
Read E-Books with SimplyE
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If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card online or through SimplyE (available on the App Store or Google Play).
Need more help? Read our guide to using SimplyE.
Comments
Another Citizen Scientist Project
Submitted by Sura Jeselsohn (not verified) on November 15, 2020 - 1:30pm