Episode 403: Citizen Science
Citizen science is known as the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the public. Those participating in citizen science projects and activities are not professional scientists; rather, this collaborative research is done by everyday people in a wide variety of settings around the world to help answer questions that scientists can’t answer by themselves. Whether participating in bird counts, water sampling, frog watches, butterfly monitoring, plant data, or other projects, anyone can find a fun and meaningful way to contribute to the scientific community, often providing valid insights into the natural world.
In This Episode
A special thanks to all of our staff and guests in this episode of Untamed!
- Michelle Prysby, Virginia Master Naturalists
- Yohn Sutton, Norfolk Zoo and FrogWatch USA
-
Connor Gillespie, Wildlife Center of Virginia
-
Rick and Krista Weatherford
Learn More
-
Interested in understanding what citizen science is, and how you can get involved? Check out the Citizen Science Association website, read the 10 Principles of Citizen Science, and take a deeper dive into the subject through the Handbook of Citizen Science in Ecology and Conservation.
-
Find a project that suits your skills and interests! There are several large-scale, national projects to which you can contribute, including The Great Backyard Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, Globe Observer, or join iNaturalist to record observations on your favorite species. Or, find a project that suits your particular skills and interests through SciStarter.
-
Looking for a local or regional project in Virginia? Several of these community science projects were featured in the episode of Untamed, including Throwing Shade, RVAir, and box turtle monitoring through the Virginia Herpetological Society. Get involved with more local bird counts through Hopewell Christmas Bird Count, Larry Robinson James River Winter Count, Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, or your own local birding chapter.
-
Learn more about data collection and check out these recorded webinars about Citizen Science: How Volunteers are Making a Difference and Birds, Birders, and Bias.
For Classrooms
Take the learning experience for your classroom or student group one step further with our specialized activity packets. These interactive resources combine summative reading sheets with writing and critical thinking exercises related to the topics and themes covered in each Untamed episode. Each page is designed to be used individually or as a complete workbook, making this activity packet perfect for educators looking to customize the lessons that can be learned from Untamed.
Citizen Science Activity Packet
Are you using these materials and resources in your classroom? We are eager to hear from you! Please let us know, so we can share your classroom projects and experiences with other teachers. Contact us at edu@wildlifecenter.org.
Here's What You Can Do
Each episode of Untamed leaves viewers with steps all of us can take to help protect wildlife and the environment.
Looking for more information? Email us at wildlife@wildlifecenter.org