This poster was presented at the April 2011 workshop, Engaging and Learning for Conservation. It describes the citizen science project and website, CitSci.org.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
USGS National Institute of Invasive Species ScienceNatural Resource Ecology LaboratoryGreg Newman
Kansas teachers participate in workshops at Konza Prairie on prairie ecology and long-term data collection. They choose a native prairie site near their school where students can collect data annually. This real world research experience allows students to use their own data and data collected by other schools and in previous years for comparison in classroom units developed by their teachers. Student collected data is added to our databases on the Internet and is available for use in any classroom. Several activities are offered to fit the class curriculum.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Konza Prairie Biological StationValerie Wright
Observations taken each year at the same place over a long period of time are valuable for showing phenological trends. The Konza Environmental Education Program (KEEP) began recording phenological events at Konza Prairie several years ago, and those observations are posted on the KEEP website. “What’s Blooming?” lists the procession of native plant species in bloom, and “Who’s Here?” lists the first sightings of the most common birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects that migrate, hibernate or otherwise appear on the landscape after an absence. A phenology database is available for each of the animal groups and also for plants that are commonly found on Konza Prairie in Kansas. These lists are not exhaustive but represent those plants and animals easily observed or abundant. The data added by volunteers and students becomes part of a long-term data set to show trends and relationships among plants or animals across Kansas. Phenology of the tallgrass prairie is observed by volunteers annually for the last eight yeas for the plant community and for the last five years for animals.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Konza Prairie Biological StationValerie Wright
Monarch is an educational outreach program based at the University of Kansas with a focus on education, research and conservation. To facilitate science education, we promote the use of monarch butterflies in classrooms and for independent studies of monarch biology by students. Through monarch tagging we engage the public in research on the monarch migration and dynamics of the population. Our conservation message is articulated through our Monarch Waystation program that encourages the public to create, conserve and protect monarch habitats.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
University of KansasChip Taylor
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This group discussion took place at the conclusion of the session titled "Community Building for Citizen Science," delivered on day three of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. Eleanor Ely, Editor of The Volunteer Monitor, served as moderator as participants discussed various citizen science education topics including involving and motivating the larger community, models of volunteers and addressing their varying needs/motivations, helping volunteers interpret data, rewarding mastery and achievement, and engaging
The Golden Gate National Parks stewardship programs seek to engage the community in the protection and restoration of local nature on public lands in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to native plant revegetation and invasive plant removal, the public is invited to join park staff in monitoring rare plant species. The Golden Gate National Parks provide habitat for over 40 rare plant species, including 9 plants that are federally listed as endangered or threatened. Volunteers participate in the gathering of field data through census and sampling methods. These data are used by the park to evaluate the status of rare plant populations and determine management actions.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
National Park ServicePresidio TrustGolden Gate National Parks ConservancyMichael Chasse
The intent of this network is to encourage volunteers to get involved with our annual horseshoe crab monitoring program on various reference beaches throughout New York’s Marine District. “Citizen Scientists” will work with trained site coordinators to help collect data on horseshoe crab spawning abundance, size, sex and tag returns around full and new moon evenings from May to July. The data collected through this program is used to assess the status of horseshoe crabs in NY State, and will help determine the management and conservation of this important species throughout the region.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Matthew SclafaniNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This is one of three focus point presentations as part of the session titled "Community Building for Citizen Science," delivered on day three of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. Lori Bushway, Senior Extension Associate and Leader of Adult Outreach at CCE's Garden-based Learning Program in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, provides an overview of Cooperative Extension and urges professionals within the field to work together within the network to better engage the public and collectively
Bird Habitat Recognition invites property owners and schools in Pennsylvania to transform some property into bird habitat with native plants and then register the property with Audubon Pennsylvania. Improving our built landscapes for birds leads to sustainable alternatives to traditional landscape practices. Participants are encouraged to monitor birds and submit data to many Citizen Science programs and eBird. Registration is free; Durable yard signs are offered as a gift for donation to Audubon, or can be purchased outright.
The Invaders of Texas Program is an innovative campaign whereby volunteer "citizen scientists" are trained to detect the arrival and dispersal of invasive species in their own local areas. That information is delivered into a statewide mapping database and to those who can do something about it. The premise is simple. The more trained eyes watching for invasive species, the better our chances of lessening or avoiding damage to our native landscape.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterTexas Forest ServiceTexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentTravis Gallo
This article explores the use of exhibit development as an instructional strategy in the school and in the museum and how both approaches offer innovative alternatives to traditional learning. Linda D'Acquisto, managing owner of Kid Curators, LLC, discusses her work and the value of school museums. Marie Scatena, Youth Programs Manager at the Chicago History Museum, discusses the Teen Chicago project.
This article features critiques of the Darwin Centre, a state-of-the-art science and collection facility at the Natural History Museum in London. Stephen Pizzey, Director (and Founder) of Science Projects in London, Ian Simmons, Science Communication Director at the Centre for LIfe in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and Harry White, Science Centre Consultant at Techniquest in Cardiff, Wales, UK, share their analysis of the exhibition and assess its strengths and weaknesses.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Stephen PizzeyIan SimmonsHarry White