The ins and outs of Community Science

Why read this newsletter?

People talk about climate and environment anxiety. Do a tiny bit of research yourself, and you’ll understand why the worries are adding up. Two-thirds of North American birds are at risk of extinction. E. coli sometimes pollutes the creeks and rivers that furnish our drinking water. Pollution in the air degrades the sky to the point where we can barely see the star some nights. Uneasy facts like these can make us feel helpless. What can I do? More recycling, fewer showers? Donate?

Yes. Plus, here’s another possibility of how to help: join me and find your sweet spot in the world of community science.

Community science is a growing field. I zoomed in on it recently when I found out about all the species that we need data on: the ladybugs, frogs, sea turtles, the birds and many more. I’m an everyday person, no scientist, but there are concrete things I can do, right here in Georgia, to help improve our coastlines, swamps, and the night sky. And, it is not just the bugs and places that need attention, people do too.  I, along with my friends and neighbors, are living in areas that are getting hotter and hotter, and there’s a way I can help scientist learn more about what’s happening. Community science—it’s also called citizen science or participatory science or just volunteer work—can be just the ticket for the non-scientists among us who want to take constructive action to help the planet.

They’re scientists, not magicians.

Did you know that around the world there is only one scientist for every 10,000 persons? We appreciate these brainy specialists but they are not magicians. They can’t be everywhere at once. Community scientists like me, we are the boots on the ground. Generally, the steps are simple:

1. Scientist has a question and creates a project to find the answers.

2. Volunteers sign up and receive education.

3. Volunteers go forth into the world (usually but not always out to a natural place) to document and report back. Today, apps are typically used for this.

4. Scientist analyzes data. Volunteers typically keep up with overall and ongoing results through websites.

Good Times

One of the first community science projects began in the U.S. in 1840. It focused on cicadas, aka, the insects “here for a good time, not a long time.” Since then, there are science networks in all countries of the world; the U.S. offers hundreds. Just like other great ideas like fresh vegetables and preschool, I realized that there’s no PR machine for community science. So, I’ve taken up the cause. Pro bono. This year, I’ll sample and promote a year’s worth of Georgia-based projects by experiencing them and writing about them. There’s no travel money, so I’ll stay close to my home-place stomping grounds in the eclectic Peach State of Georgia, U.S.A.

I’ve committed to these worthy projects so far:

UrbanHeatATL

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper / Water Quality Monitoring

FrogWatchUSA, Cobb County

Audubon Great Backyard Bird Count

City Nature Challenge / Fernbank

Globe at Night / Stephen Foster State Park’s International Dark Sky Park

Lost Ladybug Project

Appalachian Trail Seasons

iNaturalist at Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

Subscribe now and get ready to learn with me as I embark on a busy year with, hopefully, little to no gloom and doom.

In my next post, I’ll tell the story of my “gateway” community science project over at good old Procter Creek.