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Citizen Science
Science Communication, 2013

Activity 6

What is Citizen Science?

Citizen science is the term for projects where amateurs and non-professionals assist scientists to conduct research. In other words it is public participation in scientific research. People can contribute sightings or measurements, analyse data or test phenomena and provide feedback about their contributions to the scientists involved.

For some projects you do not even need to get up from your chair. For an example, in this project you can help to classify pictures of Galaxies taken by the Hubble telescope.
Visit the Galaxy Zoo, have a look, and try your hand at it:
http://www.galaxyzoo.org/#/classify

For other projects you will have to read up, get up, go out, do some field work or even purchase a specific kit.
As example have a look at the The Genographic Project: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/about/

and at
http://www.evolutionmegalab.org/en_GB


Photos: Helga Nordhoff

What to do:

  1. Have a look at the international citizen science projects below that allow international participation. Select the ones you would like to partake in. Go ahead and be a citizen scientist!
    1. Sea Floor Explorer
      Identify species and ground cover in images of the seafloor, and help create a library of seafloor life in the habitats along the northeast continental shelf. http://www.seafloorexplorer.org/
       
    2. Cyclone Centre
      CycloneCenter.org is a web-based interface that enables the public to help analyze the intensities of past tropical cyclones around the globe.
      http://www.cyclonecenter.org/#/about
       
    3. Panamath
      Number sense" describes human and animals' inborn ability to intuitively size up the number of objects in their everyday environments. Citizen scientists can take the same test used in this experiment. During the test, participants see a random number of circles on screen for 600 milliseconds (0.6 seconds). Their job is to decide whether there were more yellow circles or more blue circles
      http://panamath.org/
       
  2. The following projects will demand a little bit more of your time and effort. Select one (or more) that you would like to be involved in during the upcoming month. If you want to work with a friend or in a group you are welcome to. Read more about the topic if necessary to allow you to contribute and prepare your contribution.
    1. Dog fan?
      The Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab in NYC is investigating the different ways people and dogs play together, and we need your help (well, you and your dog's help). We are cataloguing all the ways people play with their dogs and asking dog owners to submit short videos of their own dog-human play.
      http://doghumanplay.com/Submit
       
    2. Nature lover?
      Upload any interesting sightings and get the experts to assist in validating your identification. You will have to register to be part of the project
      http://www.ispot.org.za/
       
    3. Insect enthusiast?
      The Great Moth Caterpillar-hunt Challenge. Take pictures of different life stages of caterpillars and submit your record with information about date and location of sighting
      http://www.ispot.org.za/node/177729
       
    4. Bird lover?
      Compile a list of birds in your yard or at school.
      http://mybirdpatch.adu.org.za/

References & Resources


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Helga Nordhoff upwithscience@up.ac.za
Last updated: 1 February 2013
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