Citizen science (noun): science done by ordinary people, often for or with the help of scientists (Cambridge English Dictionary)
As a Natural Sciences student at Governor’s School last summer, I learned about citizen science every day. We participated in two citizen science projects (one was a bird-watching/ant-counting biodiversity project, and the other analyzed the effects different soils have on microbe growth). Before attending Governor’s School, I was completely unaware that citizen science existed, and I am so glad that my eyes have been opened to it since. Scientists are constantly fighting battles. Whether it be periods of stagnation where breakthroughs are rare to nonexistent or it is low funding, scientists can really be put through the wringer. For instance, my brother, a nanotechnologist, was on back pay for several months because his lab ran out of funds! So, what can the ordinary citizen do to support these poor, disadvantaged lab rats (I can call them that because I consider myself a scientist!)? Citizen science! Citizen science is fun, and it can take many forms. Sometimes you might be compensated a small sum (such as $10) for taking a survey or participating in an experiment, but most of the time it is free. You can participate in hands-on projects at home, or you can participate in online projects (which range from simple surveys to identification of animals from wildlife trail camera footage). Use this website to browse for a project that interests you; you can narrow your search results to one of five topics (“mind,” “health,” “sustainability,” “tech,” and “the sciences”). I challenge you to complete at least one! The fact that anyone can participate in citizen science is what makes it so great; regardless of whether or not you consider your profession a “sciencey” endeavor, you can still engage in scientific pursuits and enjoy the beauty of learning more about the world in which we live. Happy learning!
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