What is Citizen Science?

Citizen Science is a form of open collaboration in which individuals or organizations participate in the scientific process in various ways. It refers to any regular citizen, whether volunteer, conservationist, or just enthusiast, collecting scientific data in the field to contribute to wider research and conservation work of different organizations. You don’t need to be a scientist or expert to have a meaningful impact on these efforts. The range of projects span the traditional and social sciences: animal and fish population survey; wildlife migration and nest observation; plant, rock, and water sampling and analysis; precipitation reporting, and archaeological artifact preservation. While in the past such data collection efforts have been the work of trained scientists, modern technology has bolstered a democratization of scientific inquiry. As personal smartphones and data-collecting apps have proliferated, it has become easier than ever to log information in the field that can then be instantly compiled in large database depositories. This expands scope and impact and enables enhanced real-time monitoring. iNaturalist, Cornell Ornithology Lab, the American Kestrel Partnership, and even the National Park Service have been on the forefront of this smartphone application explosion, consistently providing a wide range of user-friendly tools for anyone to conduct useful fieldwork. It is well-established these initiatives have already made significant contributions to important research, conservation efforts, and policy decisions. In the last few days alone, the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act (HR 4389) was passed by Congress. This act works to protect lands along the migratory routes for many critical bird species; the data compiled to support this legislation was gathered by citizen scientists all over the United States.

The number of universities, conservation groups, and government agency programs continue to increase. Many parks and public lands across the US Park System have multiple seasonal and on-going projects offering opportunities to a range of participants. This collaboration between the scientific community, public and private conservationists, and individual citizens provides added dimension for even the hobbyist, who can share their interest in a meaningful way. It imbues even a recreational activity with a larger purpose.