We live in an exciting time where the internet has birthed a new field: Citizen Science. The Oxford English Dictionary recently defined citizen science as “scientific work undertaken by members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions.” Rapidly growing world-wide, public participation in research enables all of us to engage in the process of scientific investigation, right in our own backyards.
The Xerces Society Pollinator Habitat yard sign
Check out my article, Citizen Science Tools for Washington’s Forest Landowners, in the fall 2017 WSU Extension/WA DNR Forest Stewardship Notes. In the article, I introduce a variety of citizen science tools – websites and phone apps – that make it fun to learn about the plants and animals who share our landscapes while also contributing new observations available to research scientists.
Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper