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C e z i i t affiliate News about Smithsonian Affiliates

Museums and citizen are allied in The Smithsonian and its affiliates have of more than 600 volunteer observers in Life, Liberty, and many important ways. Museums were successfully engaged the public in pursuing , Mexico, Latin America, the Carib­ established to collect, preserve, interpret, and science and knowledge. Some citizen bean, and United States. These citizen Pursuit of Data: display artifacts for and for the have walked through museum turnstiles, but scientists received instructions, standardized education, enjoyment, and betterment of the thousands more have been part of geographi­ forms, and weather instruments. At first, they The Public Trust public. Citizen science involves the collection, cally distributed networks of people across the gave monthly weather reports that included preservation, interpretation, and display of world. How has museum-based citizen science daily temperatures, barometric pressure, of Museum-Based public observations. When museums support helped further our scientific understanding? humidity, wind conditions, cloud conditions, citizen science, they become not only centers Here are some examples from the Smithson­ and amounts of precipitations. But by 1857, Citizen Science for learning about science, but also centers for ian’s , both past and present. thanks to the telegraph, the Washington Star doing science. In the process, they help make Joseph Henry, first secretary of the used this data to publish a daily national available to all the pursuit of science and Smithsonian, created a program in 1849 for the round-up of weather reports. The Smithson­ knowledge, which — according to James systematic collection and aggregation of ian Meteorological Project was transferred in By Caren Cooper Smithson, founding donor of the Smithsonian weather observations. The Smithsonian 1870 to the U.S. Army and in 1891 to the Institution — was the key to happiness and Meteorological Project began with 150 newly formed National Weather Service prosperity. volunteers, but grew in a decade to a network (originally called the Weather Bureau) with

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Smithsonian Affiliations 1 www.affiliations.si.edu the affiliate Citizen Science Citizen Science Association Annual Conference May 17 – 20, 2017 Connections The 2017 Citizen Science Association annual conference, “Citizen science,” known by other names in an official government website designed to This publication only scratches the a welcome venue for new and other eras, has always been an essential part of accelerate the use of citizen science and surface of what we have learned to date; we experienced practitioners, will take the Smithsonian’s DNA. In her 2013 paper throughout the federal know that there are many more citizen place at the St. Paul RiverCentre in “Citizen Science in Democracy,” Smithsonian government, mark the newest advances in science efforts in the works and we look Minnesota. Presentations will focus senior archivist Pam Henson, notes that “after this field. forward to hearing from many more Affiliates the Institution was founded in 1846, the We have noticed that a significant number about the impact of citizen science in your on best practices in conceiving, scientists who directed its programs made a of Smithsonian Affiliates are employing communities. developing, implementing, conscious effort to involve a broad array of citizen science techniques on a regular basis. evaluating, and sustaining projects citizens across the United States and abroad in These programs provide invaluable data on its scientific programs.” These included the diversity and quality of life on our planet. that facilitate “farmers, medical doctors, soldiers, teachers Emlyn Koster, director of the North Caro­ in scientific endeavors in any and telegraph operators [who] recorded daily lina Museum of Natural (NCMNS), discipline. The 2015 CSA conference, weather observations and sent them to the eloquently offers that citizen science is key to attracted 700 attendees from 21 Smithsonian to be compiled and analyzed for “illuminating the interdependence of nature patterns.” In the 1950s, Operation Moonwatch, and humanity.” It has been eye-opening to countries. For further information organized by the Smithsonian Astrophysical discover the range of citizen science projects and registration, visit Observatory, relied on astronomers that the Smithsonian and Smithsonian citizenscience.org/association/ to track the first artificial satellites, including Affiliates are already leading and their Sputnik 1. The Smithsonian, like many of our ongoing contributions to the advancement of conferences/citsci2017. Affiliates, continues to harness the energy and knowledge. enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers of all ages We are grateful to Emlyn and his and backgrounds to gather information on a colleagues at NCMNS for suggesting a special Harold A. Closter wide variety of critical topics. issue of The Affiliate for the discussion of this Guest Contributors The importance of citizen science, as both topic and for their guiding role in helping to Director Caren Cooper, Assistant Head, a tool for data gathering on a large scale and a shape this newsletter. Also, great thanks to Smithsonian Affiliations Research Lab, North Carolina Museum of means to ensure public engagement in the James Deutsch, curator at the Smithsonian’s Natural Sciences and Associate Professor, scientific process, continues to grow. The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, for NC State University founding of the Citizen Science Association in adding a critical perspective and serving as James Deutsch, Curator, Smithsonian Center for 2012, and the 2016 launch of Citizenscience.gov, our guest editor. Folklife and Cultural Heritage Christine L. Goforth, Head, Citizen Science, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Emlyn Koster, Director, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Editor Elizabeth Bugbee Contents Guest Editor James Deutsch Designer Brad Ireland Printing Chroma Graphics, Inc.

Affiliations Staff Jennifer Brundage, National Outreach Manager Elizabeth Bugbee, Communications and Professional Development Manager Harold A. Closter, Director Alma Douglas, National Outreach Manager Aaron Glavas, National Outreach Manager Laura Hansen, National Outreach Manager Christina DiMeglio Lopez, External Affairs 1 5 6 Manager Caroline Mah, National Outreach Manager Gertrude Ross, Financial Manager Natalie Wimberly, Management Support 1 5 8 Specialist

Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Data: Getting Started in Citizen Science Citizen Science: © 2017 Smithsonian Institution The Public Trust of Museum-Based A Needed Movement for the The Affiliate is published by Citizen Science d Smithsonian Affiliations. All rights reserved.

For information

Smithsonian Affiliations Smithsonian Institution 4 6 P.O. Box 37012 MRC 942 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Smithsonian Affiliates Promote Citizen Science Around the Telephone: 202.633.5300 Smithsonian Fax: 202.633.5313 Citizen Science affiliations.si.edu

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continued from page 1 collectors, including Army officers in the Public trust in museums can have two Left Right Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Data: West, while also persuading the Army to have meanings. The typical interpretation is that A Cooperative Visitors use The Public Trust of Museum-Based Citizen naturalists join their exploring expeditions. museums are institutions that are highly Weather Observer microscopes to Science Baird increased the Smithsonian’s holdings trusted — seen as reliable and honest — by the technician checks a identify the insects from 6,000 specimens in 1850 to more than public. Moreover, museums are also a public rain gauge. Photo they collected during 2 million in 1878. Donating specimens to trust, serving as the guardians and custodians courtesy of the U.S. a citizen science volunteers placed in the Cooperative Weather museum collections, which is an early form of of our culture, science, and history. When National Weather program at the North Observer Network. To this day, Cooperative citizen science, still continues, not only with museums offer citizen science, they afford Service Carolina Museum Weather Observers across the country physical specimens but also with photo people the opportunity not only to learn of Natural Sciences. maintain weather stations and record daily documentation, such as the Smithsonian Flickr science through personal experiences, but also Photo by Karen measurements. As the nation’s oldest source of Commons and the Encyclopedia of Life. to help advance immediate scientific frontiers, Swain, North Carolina ground-based weather observations, this data The pursuit of scientific knowledge to become part of long-term data legacies, and Museum of Natural is essential to contemporary scientists through citizen science differs from more perhaps even (as James Smithson advocated) to Sciences studying climate change — an application that conventional scientific research in two find greater happiness and prosperity. Secretary Henry in the 19th century could significant ways. One is the unprecedented never have anticipated. reach across both time and space. With so the affiliate Old weather observations are so critical to many people in so many different places climate science that citizen scientists are now contributing to citizen science projects, new transcribing the handwritten observations discoveries are made that scientists working Below Cover made by sailors and whalers centuries ago. alone, or even in small groups, might never A page from the 1792 A student surveys The Mystic Seaport in Connecticut has a have achieved themselves. Citizen science log of the Henrietta biodiversity with the collection of logbooks from whaling ships, therefore extends our collective capacity to allows volunteers with Patricia and Philip which volunteers are using to extract weather reach into the unknown. Old Weather: Whaling Frost Museum of and sea-ice observations through an online at Mystic Seaport Science in Miami, portal called Old Weather: Whaling, a project to measure weather Florida. Photo by hosted by the — said to be the When museums offer citizen historically. Photo Ryan Stone, National world’s largest platform for people-powered science, they afford people courtesy of Mystic Society research. Another Smithsonian affiliate, the Seaport Adler Planetarium in Chicago, was a the opportunity not only to founding partner in the Zooniverse, which learn science through personal hosts weather transcription projects, numerous experiences, but also to help projects, and more. advance immediate scientific Citizen science methods of crowdsourcing have helped humanities research as well. frontiers . . . Online volunteers in Ancient Lives — also part of the Zooniverse — have identified more than Secondly, there are often powerful social seven million Greek letters from some half outcomes that result from the collective effort million papyrus fragments excavated from the of scientists and the public. The benefits of ancient Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus. citizen science may include not only a greater Professional papyrologists could never have appreciation of science and increased scientific processed the vast treasure trove by them­ literacy among the participants, but also the selves. Similarly, more than 6,000 online empowerment of communities, an increased volunteers with the Smithsonian Transcription investment in conservation, and enhanced Center help transcribe historic diaries, social networking. correspondence, and ledgers for a variety of Thanks to citizen science, museums are purposes. Transcription turns handwritten and able to bring more people into contact with sometimes even typed documents into online science. Even if these people never visit the searchable resources for future generations. Smithsonian or one of its Affiliates in person, Similarly, citizen science has increased our they are engaged with the increase and knowledge of natural history in many ways. diffusion of knowledge in new ways. Spencer Fullerton Baird, the Smithsonian’s Museum-based science enters their homes . . . second secretary, created a large network of and their lives.

3 the affiliate Citizen Science special edition Clockwise from Sciences; Photo by top left Ryan Stone, National Photo by Michael Audubon Society; Smithsonian Field, courtesy of San Photo courtesy of Diego Natural History Mystic Seaport; One Museum; Photo by of Iowater’s initiatives Rick Wicker, © Denver included cleaning Affiliates Promote By James Deutsch Museum of Nature the Squaw Creek and Science; Photo Watershed. Photo courtesy of the Adler courtesy of Squaw Citizen Science Planetarium; Photo by Creek Watershed Christine L. Goforth, Coalition; Photo North Carolina © Scott Cher Museum of Natural

A permanent exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum in California illustrates Citizen science at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Colorado has deepened our some of the ways in which amateur naturalists have helped shape science as we know it today. understanding of taste sensations. The Genetics of Taste project involves two types of citizen Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People: A History of Citizen Science showcases rare books, art, and scientists: those who learn lab techniques for analyzing DNA; and those who become research photographs from the library’s 56,000-volume collection, many of which are on public display participants by being the subject of study. The research team found that humans can taste fat, a for the first time. The overarching theme ofExtraordinary Ideas is simple: you do not need to be a sixth taste in addition to sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami (savory). Together, scientists and to participate in science. citizen scientists debunked the notion that taste-bud density influenced sensitivity to bitterness.

The California Science Center in Los Angeles currently has two citizen science projects in Citizen science at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, progress. The Kelp Forest Census records the occurrence of giant kelp along the coast of California Iowa, often involves the collection and reporting of data on animal life and environmental from Point Conception to the Mexican border, including all of the Channel Islands. Volunteers conditions along the river. Current projects include FrogWatch USA, where volunteers report furnish images of live kelp attached to the reef, images of kelp that has broken loose from the data on the evening calls of local frogs and toads; Mudpuppy Sightings, where volunteers track the bottom and is drifting freely, and images of kelp that has washed up on the beach. The L.A. health of mudpuppies — aquatic salamanders found only in the eastern United States and Zone Flora and Fauna project encourages volunteers to photograph and post images of plants and Canada; MayFly Watch, which tracks the emergence of mayflies on the Upper Mississippi River; animals found in the greater Los Angeles area. and Iowater, which trains volunteers to conduct chemical, physical, and biological measurements of valuable water resources.

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Citizen science has found a welcome home in numerous Smithsonian Affiliates, a few highlighted here. As the number of citizen science programs and projects across the Affiliate community is quickly growing, we welcome receiving short descriptions of citizen science efforts for future publication.

Thanks to a worldwide network of volunteers, the Citizen Science Department at the Adler Citizen science at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has revealed that tiny Planetarium in Chicago is able to analyze complex data in a matter of months or sometimes mites — arachnids that live in human hair follicles and in the pores of our face — have evolved even weeks — data that might require a conventional science team more than 100 years to alongside humans since the dawn of existence by eating our skin cells and body oils. A person’s analyze. In programs such as , part of the Adler’s Zooniverse program, citizen ancestry may predict the type of mite found in their hair and on their face, suggesting that we scientists discover planets outside our solar system by identifying light-curve changes observed pass them on to each generation like microscopic family heirlooms. At the museum, expert mite by the . Over the past several decades, scientists in Chicago have been hunters inspect the faces of volunteers —in this case, the noted biologist E.O. Wilson —in search partnering with the public — using their human eyes and minds to crunch data, find trends, and of tiny creatures inside our pores. make new discoveries.

Old Weather: Whaling is a crowd-sourced research initiative that is helping scientists analyze The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida, has enlisted an army of historical data from whaling logbooks, in an effort to improve the collective understanding of citizen scientists to tackle the sweaty work of removing invasive vegetation and planting native long-term climate variability and weather patterns from the 19th century into the future. on Virginia Key, a thousand-acre barrier island just seven miles from downtown Miami. Mystic Seaport is contributing the content of some of the logbooks in its collections to support One feature of the project’s innovative features is using , blogs, science exhibitions, this citizen science initiative, in which members of the public extract historic weather measure­ and eco-art installations to empower conservation-minded residents to volunteer to help restore ments and other data from ship logs, including observations of sea ice, which many whaling a variety of urban coastal habitats. ships sailed through and documented while navigating waters.

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scientists and citizen scientists, and anyone who wants to join in the fun and discovery of camera trapping. Professional and volunteer camera trappers use eMammal software to look at pictures, identify animals, and upload them to the Smithsonian Data Repository for review and storage. These data are useful for addressing important scientific and conserva­ tion questions, and the pictures provide a unique view into the hidden world of wildlife. The eMammal project team includes staff from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and National Museum of Natural History, working with researchers from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and University of Missouri. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, in conjunction with the University of Maryland and Columbia University, developed Leafsnap — a free that helps identify tree species from photographs of their leaves and contains beautiful high-resolution images of their flowers, fruits, petioles, seeds, and bark with visual recognition software to help identify Citizen Science One of the earliest instances of citizen science boxes for Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chicka­ species from photographs. By sharing images, at the Smithsonian was the weather map on dees, and Tree Swallows. species identifications, and geo-coded stamps Around the display in the Castle, the Institution’s original The Urban Ecology Engagement of species locations with a community of building and headquarters. Starting in 1856, Initiative (UEEI) is a cooperative effort scientists, Leafsnap turns users into citizen Smithsonian the map displayed daily weather conditions between the Smithsonian’s Anacostia scientists. The resulting stream of data can (clear, cloudy, rain, or snow) based on reports Community Museum and the Smithsonian map and monitor the ebb and flow of flora. received by telegraph from hundreds of Environmental Research Center to engage One cubic foot of Earth — measuring volunteers across the country. This effort middle and high school students and teachers 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches — contains a By James Deutsch eventually led to the creation of the National throughout the Anacostia Watershed in lot of life. The Biocube program at the Smithso­ Weather Service. studying and monitoring the environment nian’s National Museum of Natural History The Smithsonian Environmental that surrounds them. Students have been uses small, accessible samples of that size to Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, contributing to the ongoing research of understand the world’s biodiversity: organisms Maryland, relies heavily on a dedicated crew scientists at the Anacostia Watershed Society hidden in leaf , soil, and the nooks and of citizen scientists who assist with research and the Maryland Department of Natural crannies of environments. By focusing on just projects in the field or in the lab. Citizen Resources Stream Waders program. UEEI one cubic foot, students, like scientists, can scientists work with researchers to investigate began in 2012 as part of the Anacostia characterize representative communities and a wide range of topics including environmen­ Community Museum’s Reclaiming the Edge: begin to understand distributions, interactions, tal archaeology, forest biodiversity, invasive Urban Waterways and Civic Engagement exhibi­ and relationships. The Biocube program was species distributions, and issues. tion. UEEI aims to challenge the way students inspired by a feature article in National They become partners in discovery, finding view and think about the environment they Geographic that involved Smithsonian scientists answers to new questions and getting an inside live in, by getting directly involved with and led to the book, A World in One Cubic Foot: look at science in the real world. In return, the streams in their communities and realizing Portraits of Biodiversity (2012) by photographer scientists are able to gather information on a that nature is found even in very urban David Liittschwager. much larger scale than would be possible on ecosystems. their own. For instance, recent projects Citizen scientists have examined the the affiliate include environmental archaeology at the details of bird lives in residential areas, thanks Sellman Plantation on the SERC campus, to the Smithsonian’s Neighborhood Nestwatch, examining mud crabs for the presence of a which focuses on American Robin, Mocking­ Top Bottom parasitic barnacle known as Loxothylacus bird, Cardinal, Gray Catbird, and House For the BiodiversiTREE Participants in the panopaei, and collecting data from 48 nest Wren. One result is that they have found program at the Anacostia Community higher nesting success in urban areas, probably Smithsonian Museum’s Citizen because of fewer predators, despite the Environmental Science Program presence of cats. Neighborhood Nestwatch also Research Center, group monitor the found that urban songbirds bioaccumulate lead scientists and water quality of the in their tissues, which not only affects their volunteers planted Anacostia watershed health, but also indicates the persistence of this nearly 20,000 tress near Kenilworth Park heavy metal in soils in urban and suburban on former cropland. in Washington, D.C. areas. Neighborhood Nestwatch provides both an Photo by Caroline Photo by Susana Raab, experiential educational experience for Kanaskie, courtesy of Anacostia Community citizens and a unique platform for important SERC Museum/Smithsonian scientific research. It is headquartered at the Institution Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Middle Washington, D.C., which is operated by the Louise Hoover's Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park and painting of Joseph its Conservation Biology Institute. Henry. Courtesy of eMammal is a system for collecting, Smithsonian Institution storing, and sharing camera-trap data from Archives around the globe. The system is designed for

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Many online platforms allow you to Regardless of how you begin your citizen create your own project relatively easily and science journey, you should always consider without a web developer. For example, the following: iNaturalist allows people worldwide to photograph plants, animals, and fungi, and to • Even the easiest gateway, such as participat­ share their findings publicly. Building a ing in a pre-existing project, incurs some cost. project within iNaturalist is easy and provides Consider the staff time, equipment, and other your museum the opportunity to create resources you will need before you begin and biodiversity-focused projects with minimal determine if the benefits balance the costs. resources. Zooniverse is another great Staff support is vital for success! platform that allows users to build computer- based citizen science projects. Current • Citizen science practitioners at other Zooniverse projects ask participants to help museums are often willing to help get you transcribe museum specimen/artifact labels started, so seek collaborations when you can. and documents, identify and count animals captured on camera traps in the Serengeti, and • Because citizen science is an inherently classify galaxy shapes. Platforms such as social enterprise, your participants will iNaturalist and Zooniverse allow you to appreciate getting occasional updates, news quickly and easily start your own projects about the projects they participate in, and without web developers, many dedicated staff, other information. Plan to share these through or researchers, while engaging your visitors in your social media and other outlets for work that is meaningful to your institution. communication with your participants. Whether you ease in with pre-existing projects or dive into the deep end with Whether you ease in with pre­ institutional change, citizen science is a great existing projects or dive into the way to engage your visitors in authentic science. As something within easy reach of deep end with institutional change, nearly any museum, citizen science is a citizen science is a great way to powerful tool in the arsenal of museum-based engage your visitors in authentic programming. Consider adding a citizen science science program or two to your repertoire and see how your museum and your visitors can make a difference, together! For museums that already have research­ ers and web developers, consider starting a the affiliate new project from scratch! This is the most complicated way to get involved in citizen science and generally requires staff, financial, Top Bottom left web, and media resources. Creating your own A group of Raleigh A volunteer helps project also allows your institution to high school students a young visitor to Over the past few years, the number of customize every aspect of your project and to visit one of the North the North Carolina Getting Started in museums that provide citizen science oppor­ tailor it to your specific needs. However, just Carolina Museum Museum of Natural tunities to their visitors has surged. Citizen because your museum doesn’t have researchers of Natural Sciences Sciences record data Citizen Science science is increasingly popular at museums doesn’t mean you can’t create your own labs twice a year to from a bird nest largely because it satisfies their educational and project. Collaborations between museums and identify the aquatic box for Nestwatch. research goals, but even institutions without local universities can lead to wonderful insects they study Photo by Christine active research programs are getting involved. projects that meet the needs of both. as part of a citizen L. Goforth, North By Christine L. Goforth Some museums have created citizen science- If your institution wants to formally science project Carolina Museum of focused positions on their staff and have develop citizen science programs, you should they developed Natural Sciences institutionalized their commitment to the outline your program goals within your themselves. Photo by practice; others simply want to offer an greater institutional goals. This strategy will Christine L. Goforth, Bottom right authentic science experience to K-12 visitors help your entire staff understand the impor­ North Carolina Citizen scientists use during field trips or as one-off programs. tance of citizen science to your institution, Museum of Natural the iNaturalist app Happily, there are many ways for your encourage broad staff participation in your Sciences in the field. Photo museum to get involved in this rapidly program, and provide dedicated support for courtesy of iNaturalist growing field, regardless of the level of your efforts. involvement and resources you can commit to citizen science. If your facility has no researchers nor sufficient staff to start a new project from scratch, no problem! Simply take advantage of the thousands of pre-existing projects. Consider visiting .com, a popular aggregator of citizen science projects, and search for one that fits your museum’s theme. Many of the most popular citizen science projects offer ready-made educational lesson plans and excellent support. Contributing to a pre-existing project is a worthwhile way to dip your toes into citizen science when you have minimal staff, resources, space, or other constraints, or if you simply want to explore the possibilities of citizen science before expanding your program.

7 the affiliate Citizen Science the nature and science museum sector. Such actions would have affirmed the founding raison d’être of “the museum,” taken from Greek mythology as the place where The Muses were worshipped. We now believe that our attachment to nature is instinctive and that within each of us exists an “inner scientist.” Accordingly, our nature and science museums need new and uplifting ways to engage their communities in topics that illuminate the Anthropocene from its multiple angles. The rising popularity of citizen science — which is stimulating lifelong public participation in scientific research― offers an especially promising pathway. Thanks to their comprehensive expertise, our nature and science museums have perhaps the greatest potential to enhance lifelong learning around the world. These museums must find ways to act holistically in response to the Anthropocene’s societal needs, which are becoming increasingly urgent. Where I work, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, explicitly Citizen Science: Although only a quarter-century old as a term, of formalized the term. Around recognizes the imperative of the citizen citizen science is centuries old as a practice in the same time, Robert Sullivan at the science movement. Our mission is to illumi­ A Needed which those without formal training are able Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural nate the interdependence of nature and to engage in science and advance its frontiers. History questioned the prevailing Victorian humanity, propelled by four vital questions: Movement for the Here are a few illustrative historical paradigm of natural history museums and What do we know? How do we know? What examples: advocated for public engagement and ecosys­ is happening now? How can the public Anthropocene tem-level approaches. Physicist Ursula participate? • Shakespeare wrote in The Merry Wives of Franklin at the University of Toronto Windsor (1602), “She laments sir . . . her provided further philosophical underpinnings the affiliate husband goes this morning a-birding.” with her call “to build knowledge and By Emlyn Koster understanding among and between citizens • At Lyme Regis on the English Channel and scientists.” The goal, she opined, is to coast, tourists learn that Mary Anning erase “the distinction between the two (1799 – 1847) was the first person to collect groups . . . so that both become citizen ammonites and marine reptiles from cliff scientists, potentially able to solve our outcrops of Jurassic strata. According to problems together.” Stephen Jay Gould, the distinguished evolu­ Today, citizen science is a surging global tionary theorist and historian of science, movement that provides a myriad of opportu­ Anning was “probably the most important nities for the interested public — at all ages and unsung (or inadequately sung) collecting force stages of learning and from all back­ in the history of paleontology.” grounds — to engage in research projects focused on understanding and improving the Additional Resources • Two Boston socialites, Harriet Hemenway world around us. With the frontiers of citizen and Minna Hall, urged approximately 1,000 science now also including such topics as women in 1896 to end the fashion of adorning biodiversity, weather and climate, environ­ hats with bird feathers. A Massachusetts law mental quality, and medical research, the Opportunities for citizen science are one year later eventually led to the U.S. virtual ubiquity of Internet access and cameras rapidly expanding throughout the Top Bottom Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. has greatly advanced what is possible. Increas­ country, with new resources appearing Bird watching and This Monarch ingly, concerned members of the public are the in print and online every day. See, bird counting are butterfly was tagged • In 1975, after two decades of volunteers ones who spur the interests of researchers and for instance, the Smithsonian’s page popular activities in Cape May Point tagging thousands of Moncarch butterflies, a policymakers. What began as pastimes for citizen science, with links to oppor­ for citizen scientists. State Park, New tagged Monarch was found in the mountains, detached from scientific professions has tunities for getting involved: Photo courtesy of Jersey. Photo by and thus providing evidence of their long-distance become a desirable nexus of mutual energy at U.S. Fish and Wildlife © Derek Ramsey migration . www.si.edu/volunteer/citizenscience. Service • Annually since 1979, the Astronomical Today, citizen science is a surging The Citizen Science Association offers Society of the Pacific has given its prestigious global movement that provides a more opportunities at www.citizen­ Amateur Achievement Award. myriad of opportunities for the science.org, and Caren Cooper, the author of this newsletter’s cover story, • This country’s annual Christmas Bird Count interested public has recently published Citizen Science: began in 1900. ’s Lab of Ornithology reports that its eBird database this particular moment in human history, How Ordinary People Are Changing now enables birders to track any of the Earth’s known as the Anthropocene. the Face of Discovery (Overlook Press, 10,000-plus bird species. Similarly, observa­ Admittedly, it took some time for 2016), which provides both a historical tions on 8,600-plus species worldwide help to museums — particularly nature and science overview and thoughts about future document declines of some species, range museums — to broaden their thinking with directions for citizen science. expansions of others, and spread of avian research insights from other fields, such as diseases. social biology and psychology. In hindsight, the first attempts at space exploration in the Nevertheless, it was not until the early 1950s and 1960s, which may well coincide with 1990s that the and practice of the formalized start of the Anthropocene, citizen science truly blossomed, especially should have sparked a period of profound after Rick Bonney at Cornell University’s Lab introspection, reflection and inspiration across

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