Science Communication, Group R

Activity 7

What is Citizen Science?

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. Global Biomimetic Water Harvesting Project
      Water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing society. Only 2.5% of the world’s water is available as freshwater, of which only 0.3 % is readily accessible for human consumption. In regions of the world where clean water sources are not readily available, many of the simplest tasks such as drinking, washing, cooking, and farming are a major challenge.
      The Global Biomimetic Water Harvesting Project is aimed at tackling this issue using a research based approach. The work takes inspiration from nature to mimic the structure, mechanisms and techniques used by natural species to interact with water. These designs are being replicated in the laboratory to provide sustainable and affordable solutions for drinking water.
      http://community.dur.ac.uk/jps.badyal/Water.htm
       
      
   2. 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/
       
      
   3. 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
       
   4. 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/
       
   5. Water
      This project is amed at primary school children, but have a look and pass the word to your teachers.
      http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001703/water-absorption-a-global-experiment-with-hydrogels?utm_content=&utm_source=promo-material&utm_medium=printed&utm_campaign=mkt-rab-ed15009
       
   6. The Space Archaeologists
      Help Sarah Parcak, a apace archaeologist, to locate lost tombs by looking at satellite pictures. Once you have accurately located a site, you'll get to experience a virtual dig.
      More information is available here:
      http://www.popsci.com/help-space-archaeologist-locate-lost-tombs
      The Global Explorer site will launch sometime in 2016.
       
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 months. 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. 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/
       
   2. Animal lover?
      The Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University of Cape Town has a menagerie of projects you can choose from. Wether you prefer mammals or frogs or birds or lepidoptera, there is a project for you that will get you outdoors ot collect valuable data for science and conservation. It's easy to become involved and it's a lot of fun.
      http://www.adu.org.za/citizen_science.php
       
   3. Bird lover?
      Compile a list of birds in your yard or at school.
      http://mybirdpatch.adu.org.za/
       
   4. Are you a Landscape person?
      Take part in the 'Repeat photograph project of South African landscapes'.
      "Contribute to an understanding of how South Africa's environment has been changing and is continuing to change. This is done by comparing two photographs of the same view, taken at different times, and then recording the major changes that have taken place between the photos."
      http://rephotosa.adu.org.za/
       
   5. Water?
      Monitor the health of a river or water course near you by joining the mini-SASS (Stream Assessment Scoring System) team.
      http://www.minisass.org/en/
       
   6. Find your own project
      

References & Resources

• Raquel da Cunha. 2015. Are you ready for Citizen Science. Viewed online on 16 September 2015 at http://www.ecsite.eu/activities-and-services/news-and-publications/digital-spokes/issue-11#section=section-indepth&href=/feature/depth/are-you-ready-citizen-science