Photo of an Earth-viewing area of the International Space Station with holiday decorations.

Citizen Science Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a special gift for the citizen science lover in your life? You’ve come to the right place! In this podcast, we share expert picks for over a dozen unique gifts your friends and family will enjoy while they help scientists conduct important research. Listen: https://citscipod.podbean.com/e/scistarter-holiday-gift-guide-live/ Projects and websites featured in this episode include: … Read more “Citizen Science Holiday Gift Guide”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Biology, book, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Field Guide to Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors, Other, podcast

Celebrate Halloween With Citizen Science Projects Featuring ZomBees and More!

Welcome to our annual (spooky) edition of the SciStarter Halloween blog! In the spirit of the season, we’re highlighting five projects that impart science with a healthy dose of frights and scares. But be bold, because your participation also brings critical new data to light and helps advance science everywhere. There’s nothing scary about that! … Read more “Celebrate Halloween With Citizen Science Projects Featuring ZomBees and More!”

Categories: Animals, Environment, Featured Projects, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

Landscape photo of tulip poplar tree and sycamores on a late fall afternoon.

Join Citizen Science Efforts to Preserve Our Forests

With forests being wiped out worldwide by climate change, deforestation, pests and plagues, trees need all the help they can get. In this episode of the SciStarter podcast, we learn about three citizen science projects that monitor and protect trees. Also, with gift-giving season right around the corner, Bob also shares a few of his … Read more “Join Citizen Science Efforts to Preserve Our Forests”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Girl Scouts, Nature & Outdoors, Other

Ocean waves and water

How Citizen Science Helps NOAA Keep Tabs on Our Oceans

Our oceans are vast, powerful and mysterious — and even after centuries of study, there are still many things scientists don’t know about our planet’s blue expanses. But the ocean affects all of our lives intimately, even those of us who live far from the coast. Oceans provide food for billions of people, shape weather … Read more “How Citizen Science Helps NOAA Keep Tabs on Our Oceans”

Categories: Animals, Climate & Weather, Environment

Diving into Citizen Science: Surfrider Volunteers Protect Public Health at the Beach

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. From testing our coastal waters to ensuring that runoff stays in your garden to reducing plastic pollution, Surfrider’s programs help ensure that our marine ecosystems are protected. … Read more “Diving into Citizen Science: Surfrider Volunteers Protect Public Health at the Beach”

Categories: Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Martin Dohrn filming a bumble bee hovering over a dandelion.

Inspire Your Community to Protect Local Pollinators

When the global pandemic hit, acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn, locked down in his small city garden in Bristol, England, decided to turn the cameras on the wildlife in his backyard. He was particularly fascinated with the bees visiting his garden. Putting his unparalleled skills and cameras to use, he filmed more than 60 different … Read more “Inspire Your Community to Protect Local Pollinators”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science Month, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Events, Insects, Nature & Outdoors

A hand holding a smartphone in the woods. On screen is the Mountain Rain or Snow website.

How can it snow when temperatures are above freezing? Mountain Rain or Snow has the answer — and wants your help studying it

A glimpse at the temperature during the next snowfall might surprise you: It may not actually be below freezing outside. Don’t worry, your thermometer isn’t broken, and you didn’t miss a memo about a change in the laws of physics. There’s a straightforward reason why it can snow above 32°F — though it does make … Read more “How can it snow when temperatures are above freezing? Mountain Rain or Snow has the answer — and wants your help studying it”

Categories: Citizen Science, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Other

This image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows a cross-section of the undersea, land and sky at Tafeu Cove in American Somoa.

Exploring Earth with NOAA Citizen Science

This post is based on the latest episode of our podcast, Citizen Science: Stories of Science We Can Do Together! In it, co-host Bob Hirshon and Caroline Nickerson discuss some of the inspiring citizen science work conducted under the auspices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Listen here: Citizen Science: Stories of Science … Read more “Exploring Earth with NOAA Citizen Science”

Categories: Apps, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Education, Environment, Featured Projects, Geology & Earth Sciences, Ocean & Water, Other, podcast

Three photos show students collecting snow depth measurements using a meter stick, thermometer and recording observations on a clipboard.

Got Snow? Classrooms Get Outside for Citizen Science

As snow blankets the world each winter, the colder temperatures and shorter days can tempt us to curl up indoors with a hot chocolate, watching the winter landscape through the window. But there’s still much to be learned from the great outdoors! That’s why Sknowledge Collective — short for Snow Knowledge — is bringing the … Read more “Got Snow? Classrooms Get Outside for Citizen Science”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Education, Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Man wearing hat photographing clouds with cell phone.

Four Ways (in One App) to Help NASA Study the Changing Planet

Researchers can accomplish amazing things these days with satellites — they can study clouds and climate, forests and land use change and even bird migrations. But with so much satellite data, it can be hard to match up measurements from the sky above with information about what’s actually on the ground. That’s where citizen scientists … Read more “Four Ways (in One App) to Help NASA Study the Changing Planet”

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