Cool Universe Links to Citizen Science Projects

You don't have to be a scientist to contribute to ongoing research or special projects. Check with local science museums or universities for volunteer opportunities. Here are some suggestions. If you know of others, please let me know.

SciStarter - Science we can do together
See the Project of the Day; sign up for the free newsletter; read the blog; if you are a scientist, add a project.

Cornell Citizen Science Clearing House
This was new in July 2011 and may be the ultimate compilation, folks. This links to the "Find" page where you can choose among ten (10) categories, from Astronomy to Weather, and 130 programs! I am so glad Cornell took this on (less work for me, you see). Check it out & get your geek on!

Zooniverse - Real Science Online
Especially if astronomy is your thing... "Zooniverse is home to the internet's largest, most popular and most successful citizen science projects." A sampling:

• Galaxy Zoo - Supernova! - Hunt for supernovae.
• Galaxy - You too can classify galaxies using Hubble Space Telescope images.
• Milky Way Project - Help find and draw bubbles in beautiful infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
• Moon Zoo - Study the lunar surface.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
I've recorded birds in my backyard for nearly a decade with FeederWatch (below). The lab has projects for varied interests and time requirements time. Some have fees, but most are free and resources include gorgeous photos, bird identification helps and educational resources. Programs include:

• NestWatch - Determine whether the Gulf Oil Spill will affect backyard birds.
• Project Feederwatch - Feed the birds? Record feathered guests and help ornithologists understand population changes.
• eBird - See a cool bird anytime, anywhere and share the information online.
• Celebrate Urban Birds - Spend 10 minutes observing your neighborhood.

EarthTrek
Links for the global community include earthquake monitoring, hummingbirds and a gravestone project.

Pathfinder Science
If you are a teacher, don't miss this great online resource. Projects include North American Lichen Mapping, Stream Monitoring, Monarch (Butterfly) Watch, Amphibian Monitoring and a historical study of study of African-American Immigration.

FrogWatch USA
This terrific national project was conceived by the National Wildlife Federation and can be found on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website.

Audubon
The Christmas Bird Count is well known, but nearly every local chapter has specific, on-going projects for which they need volunteers

National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Program
Record temperature, snowfall, rainfall and help measure climate change.