Want to “geocache” wildlife? There’s an App for that!

Ever spotted an amazing critter and wanted to tell your nature-loving friends where it was located? Ever wondered where you could view a white-tailed jackrabbit? WildObs is the app for you! Short for “wildlife observations,” the WildObs website and suite of iPhone and Android apps allow nature enthusiasts to record wildlife observations and then share … Read more “Want to “geocache” wildlife? There’s an App for that!”

Categories: Animals, Apps, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors

EteRNA: Biology plus videogames equals cutting-edge science

What class of molecules dominated the primordial stages of evolution, and seems to function as an exquisite operating system for our cells? RNA — the single-stranded cousin of DNA. Scientists suspect that a better understanding of RNAs will allow us to more deeply understand healthy cells, and to design better treatments for those infected by … Read more “EteRNA: Biology plus videogames equals cutting-edge science”

Categories: Biology, Chemistry, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology

10 most visited Science for Citizens blog posts of 2010

Below, I’ve listed the top 10 Science for Citizen blog posts according to the number of visits. Thanks for joining our journey in our inaugural year. Wait until you hear what we’ve got cooking for 2011! Happy New Year from the Sci4Cits team! 10. The hummingbird versus Godzilla–on video! To fans of hummingbirds and “nature … Read more “10 most visited Science for Citizens blog posts of 2010”

Categories: Animals, Apps, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Computers & Technology, Ecology & Environment, Geology & Earth Sciences, In the News, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Science Education Standards

Top Citizen Science Projects of 2010

Which citizen science projects in our Project Finder were the most visited in 2010? Check out the top 10! Is your favorite on this list? If not, tell us about your favorite citizen science project(s) on your very own (free) member blog! 10. Foldit: Solve Protein Puzzles for Science Foldit is a revolutionary new computer … Read more “Top Citizen Science Projects of 2010”

Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Birds, Climate & Weather, Computers & Technology, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Geology & Earth Sciences, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Physics, Science Education Standards

Meet Our Festival Collaborators: Steve from JellyWatch

There’s only one more day until this weekend’s USA Science and Engineering Festival Expo in Washington, DC! The Science for Citizens team has been hard at work putting together an engaging, interesting, and fun exhibit featuring some terrific citizen science projects. Remember, we’ll be at Section PA-13, Booth Numbers 1229 and 1231, on Pennsylvania Ave … Read more “Meet Our Festival Collaborators: Steve from JellyWatch”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Computers & Technology, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Science Education Standards, USA Science and Engineering Festival

Rad Astronomy: Interview with Global Telescope Network Director Kevin McLin

Whether tackling the mysteries of the universe or studying birds in the backyard, citizen science projects rely on collaboration between scientists, volunteers, teachers, students, and many other dedicated participants. One great example from our Project Finder is the Global Telescope Network, an informal association of amateur astronomers who partner with scientists to conduct cutting-edge astronomy research. Using … Read more “Rad Astronomy: Interview with Global Telescope Network Director Kevin McLin”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Computers & Technology, Physics

A university for citizen scientists

Bard College, a liberal-arts school in New York state, is hoping to foster a lifelong interest in science with its new “Citizen Science Program,” a three-week intensive regimen required of all first-year students. The course, ready to roll in January 2011, aims to give all Bard’s freshmen in-depth exposure to scientific problem solving. The director … Read more “A university for citizen scientists”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology, Science Education Standards

Want to chat with the physicists from Einstein@home?

Our pal, Elsa Youngsteadt, at Sigma Xi (one of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world) asked us to invite you to participate in an online conversation taking place right now over at The World: Science. Elsa co-produces the popular science podcast for The World, a daily international news magazine broadcast on public radio stations … Read more “Want to chat with the physicists from Einstein@home?”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology

Game on for volunteer protein folders

The child you scold for spending so much time on World of Warcraft? That kid could turn out to be a biochemist’s dream. According to University of Washington researchers who run an online game—sorry—an online science project called Foldit, players can beat computer algorithms at solving one of science’s toughest problems: How to fold a … Read more “Game on for volunteer protein folders”

Categories: Biology, Chemistry, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology

Is Rachel Maddow a citizen scientist?

On the list of reasons to watch The Rachel Maddow Show, one wouldn’t ordinarily expect to find “lessons in ornithology” near the top. Well, after Monday night’s show, that’s exactly what viewers got! In the video clip below, Maddow explains how she was recently walking her dog in a western Massachusetts forest when she heard … Read more “Is Rachel Maddow a citizen scientist?”

Categories: Animals, Birds, Computers & Technology, In the News, Nature & Outdoors