Abigail Anderson – Citizen Science Today

Patterns of Participation and Motivation in Folding@home: The Contribution of Hardware Enthusiasts and Overclockers

Vickie Curtis — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 21:00:18 +0000

Abstract: Folding@home is a distributed computing project in which participants run protein folding simulations on their computers. Participants complete work units and are awarded points for their contribution. An investigation into motivations to participate and patterns of participation revealed the significant contribution of a sub-community composed of individuals who custom-build computers to maximise their processing...

When Scientists Become Social Scientists: How Citizen Science Projects Learn About Volunteers

Peter T. Darch — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:00:44 +0000

Abstract: Online citizen science projects involve recruitment of volunteers to assist researchers with the creation, curation, and analysis of large datasets. Enhancing the quality of these data products is a fundamental concern for teams running citizen science projects. Decisions about a project’s design and operations have a critical effect both on whether the project recruits...

Toward a Sociocultural Learning Theory Framework to Designing Online learning Communities in Citizen Science

Ruth Kermish-Allen and Kate Kastelein — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:00:36 +0000

Abstract: How can sociocultural learning theory inform design principles for citizen science online learning communities to inspire local environmental action? The purpose of this article is to identify themes in sociocultural learning theory that could inform the use and development of highly collaborative online learning communities that utilize community informatics tools for citizen science to...

Assessing Citizen Science Participation Skill for Altruism or University Course Credit: A Case Study Analysis Using Cyclone Center

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:00:16 +0000

Abstract: A common challenge in citizen science projects is gaining and retaining participants. At the same time, the tertiary education sector is constantly being challenged to provide more meaningful and practical work for students. Can participation in citizen science projects be used as coursework with real practical experiential-learning benefits, without affecting the citizen science project...

Global Big Day 2018: a birding world record

Team eBird — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:00:13 +0000

Excerpt: Birds are incredible. Their power to inspire and amaze brings people together across every imaginable boundary. Global Big Day is the embodiment of this worldwide connectedness: a single day to celebrate birds in every place on Earth. On 5 May, Global Big Day, 28,000 people ventured outside in 170 countries, finding 6899 species: 2/3rds...

Innovation in Citizen Science – Perspectives on Science-Policy Advances

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:00:06 +0000

Abstract: Citizen science is growing as a field of research with contributions from diverse disciplines, promoting innovation in science, society, and policy. Inter- and transdisciplinary discussions and critical analyses are needed to use the current momentum to evaluate, demonstrate, and build on the advances that have been made in the past few years. This paper...

Happy New Year from Citizen Science Today

CST Editors, LFF & AWA — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:52:10 +0000

What a year we saw with 2017! Staying focused on the positive, it was a great year for citizen science. Here are just a few call-outs but all citizen scientists should immediately pat themselves on the back! We CAN do it and have fun at the same time. This year, the Citizen Science Association hosted...

Editor’s Choice: Once Teased For Her Love Of Bugs, 8-Yr Old Co-Authors Scientific Paper

Camila Domonoske and Merrit Kennedy — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 19:00:52 +0000

Editor’s Choice: A warm & fuzzy story about creepy crawlies. Though slightly tangential to citizen science, this story illustrates a key ingredient to successful science outreach: scientists seeing a little bit of themselves in their audience. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to Morgan Jackson and Sophia Spencer interviewed on NPR, via the...

Citizen science volunteers driven by desire to learn

University of Portsmouth News, Press Office — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:00:47 +0000

Excerpt: People who give up their time for online volunteering are mainly motivated by a desire to learn, a new study has found. The research surveyed volunteers on ‘citizen science’ projects and suggests that this type of volunteering could be used to increase general knowledge of science within society. The study, led by Dr Joe...

Citizen Scientists Chase Total Solar Eclipse

Rachael Lallensack — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:00:44 +0000

Excerpt: Fred Isberner is a retired healthcare professor in Carbondale, Illinois. But on 21 August, the 69-year-old will be collecting data about the Sun’s superheated outer atmosphere during a total solar eclipse. Isberner is one of thousands of people across the United States who plan to gather data during the event. Their combined efforts will...