How Citizen Scientists Are Helping Sharks Around the World

Mike Bear had just slipped underwater, offshore near San Diego, and was floating among the long fronds of a kelp forest when a long shadow passed between him and his diving partner. Gliding by, nearly within arm’s reach, was the sleek bulk of a sevengill shark, which Bear estimated at about nine feet long. “To … Read more “How Citizen Scientists Are Helping Sharks Around the World”

Categories: Animals

Four photos of different squirrel species and the SciStarter logo.

Go nuts with these 5 squirrel-themed citizen science projects

Squirrels are fantastic creatures that live all over the world, including your backyard! These floofy-tailed creatures are more than adorable (and sometimes annoying) creatures — they’re actually perfect models to study evolution, species conservation and habitats (like woodpecker cavities). Your local squirrel observations are needed for research questions like these and more. Find out how … Read more “Go nuts with these 5 squirrel-themed citizen science projects”

Categories: Newsletter

EarthEcho Water Challenge

Take Action with the EarthEcho Water Challenge to Protect Local Waterways!

Take action with the EarthEcho Water Challenge to collect and share water quality data. Then, work to protect your local water resources. About the EarthEcho Water Challenge On March 22, this year’s EarthEcho Water Challenge kicked off, empowering young people and community members around the world to monitor and protect local water resources in their … Read more “Take Action with the EarthEcho Water Challenge to Protect Local Waterways!”

Categories: EarthSchool, Environment, Ocean & Water

Exploring the wonder of birds through the Migratory Shorebird Project

I used to think of birds as delicate creatures, airy and carefree, with pretty feathers and pretty songs. Then I saw the film “Winged Migration” and came to understand just how gritty and daring these lovely creatures really are. The film uses bird’s-eye footage to document the treacherous treks birds across the globe make each … Read more “Exploring the wonder of birds through the Migratory Shorebird Project”

Categories: Animals, Birds, Project Profile

Weeding: It’s Not Just for Gardeners

By Kayla Keyes, Mote Marine Laboratory Recent news about Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has been grim: the most recent aerial survey of the reef identified a stretch of bleached coral over 900 miles (1500 km) long, and scientists have declared the reef to be in a terminal stage. Studies have shown that losing the Great … Read more “Weeding: It’s Not Just for Gardeners”

Categories: Citizen Science, Guest Contributor, Ocean & Water, Project Profile

Citizen Scientists Diving to Study The Mystery of Manta Rays

This post is part of our Divers’ series. We encourage readers to continue the conversation by adding their own comments, question or concerns on our Facebook page. You’ll find links to other posts at the end of this story.  Two years ago I rang in the New Year by scuba diving with giant manta rays off … Read more “Citizen Scientists Diving to Study The Mystery of Manta Rays”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ocean & Water, Project Profile

Endangered Bumble Bee Gets Help From Citizen Scientists

The United States Endangered Species Act is often considered to be the most powerful piece of environmental legislation not just in the US, but in the world. As a result, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) formally lists a species as either threatened or endangered, it can be a game-changer for the species … Read more “Endangered Bumble Bee Gets Help From Citizen Scientists”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Project Profile

Turtle Crossing in Wisconsin

Why did the turtle cross the road? Change the “why” to a “where,” and conservation biologist Andrew Badje just might be able to tell you. Through his work with the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, Badje collects turtle road crossing data to help map populations, especially at precarious road and rail crossings.

Categories: Animals, Citizen Science, Project Profile

Celebrating the citizen in citizen science

I believe that citizen science is about citizenship as well as science. By this, I don’t mean citizenship in a specific country, but in a larger community. As a citizen scientist focusing on the natural world, I become a better citizen of that world—the world of tree frogs, say, or hummingbirds or dragonflies. Citizen science makes … Read more “Celebrating the citizen in citizen science”

Categories: Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Project Profile