Citizen Science: A Way To Spark Curiosity and Discovery

As it turns out, you don't have to be a scientist to make contributions to the scientific community. A citizen scientist, as the name suggests, is a citizen who engages in scientific research. As a member of the public, you can volunteer to participate in research and aid scientists by gathering crucial data and information. Scientists then use the information you provide to tackle real-world issues. So how can you and your child get your child involved?

There are many citizen science sites where you and your child can view and volunteer for projects. Here are a few:

Citizenscience.gov:

An official government site where organizations utilize crowdsourcing and citizen science to involve the American public in tackling societal challenges and making advancements in the areas science, technology, and innovation. To date, the catalog lists 504 projects all of which are validated by federal employees. You can filter your search for projects on the site by status, agency, and field of science.

Citizen Science-NASA Science:

On this site, you can find projects that are out of this world (pun intended)! Combine your love of space and science to help NASA researchers find the keys to unlocking the universe, answer the question of is there life elsewhere?, and discover ways to protect life on earth and beyond. Each project includes a project summary, an informative YouTube video, and a direct link to the project website. Projects that are "kid friendly" are specified as such in the project overview (please see example from the website below). Presently there are 31 projects and they are open to everyone around the world.

National Geographic Education:

Here you can find projects for grades 3-12+ in the subjects of biology, ecology, and earth science. This site is really easy to search and find open projects. The projects are fun and cool. Participation in them would be a great way to get the entire family involved and perhaps start a family tradition (I mean doesn't the Christmas Bird Count sound fantastic?!).

Some of the projects on the sites are limited to specific geographical locations, some may be seasonal, some are one-time projects, some may be active but are no longer seeking volunteers, and some even have certificates that you can print out once your child participates. Make sure to read the project details and specifics.

Whichever project you choose, it is a great way for you and your child to find and embrace your inner scientist.