Become a Citizen Scientist



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Michigan eLibrary



Supporting Michigan Libraries - 05/18/2023

Become a Citizen Scientist

Children Conducting Science Experiment

 





 





From counting clouds to banding birds, scientific projects involving regular people are common. Not only does this work help scientists, but it also empowers citizens to connect with the natural world. The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) [ [link removed] ] includes peer-reviewed studies, articles, and eBooks that can get regular people involved in scientific study.

*eBook Public Library Collection* [ [link removed] ]

Receiving a starred review from "Library Journal", "Citizen Science [ [link removed] ]" by Caren Cooper describes how citizen science is not a new field, but rather has become more well-known and widespread due to the Internet and smartphones. Cooper shares how ordinary people participate in projects such as tabulating precipitation totals and tagging Monarch butterflies. "Science by the People: Participation, Power, and the Politics of Environmental Knowledge [ [link removed] ]" by Aya H. Kimura and Abby Kinchy focuses on the political aspects of citizen science and seeks to understand the impacts it can have on people’s lives and environments. Written for kids, "Getting into Citizen Science [ [link removed] ]" by Vic Kovacs is a hands-on guide to help children learn how to participate in projects and keep scientific records. A suggested resource from this book is SciStarter [ [link removed] ] which includes a section of information about how libraries can get involved in citizen science.

*Peer-Reviewed Journals*

With studies from peer-reviewed journals about the impacts of citizen science, MeL offers a wealth of information. For example, “Creating Synergies Between Citizen Science and Indigenous and Local Knowledge [ [link removed] ],” in "BioScience" [ [link removed] ] from Science Reference Center [ [link removed] ], describes aspirational practices to strengthen connections between Indigenous Local Knowledge (ILK) holders and citizen science. When the total solar eclipse occurred in 2017, participants in a citizen science project collected thousands of temperature and cloud observations. These measurements were used to better understand the meteorological effects of the eclipse according to “Eclipse Across America: Citizen Science Observations of the 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse [ [link removed] ]_”_ in the "Journal of Applied Meteorology & Climatology" [ [link removed] ] which is included in Applied Science & Technology Source [ [link removed] ]. MeL also provides ideas for school-age learners. The publication "Science & Children" [ [link removed] ] in Science Reference Center [ [link removed] ] offers a look inside a classroom. “Combining the Old with the New: Using a Historical Text and a Citizen Science App to Engage Student Learning [ [link removed] ]_”_ describes a cross-curricular project for fourth graders.

Getting outside and enjoying all that Michigan has to offer can be enhanced by joining citizen science projects. To get started, browse the MeL eResources [ [link removed] ] for more ideas.

*If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact **[email protected]* <[email protected]>* for help.*







Brought to you by Laura Warren-Gross from the MeL Team

Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. 

Hey front line staff: The MeL Maven Badge is a 6-part Information Literacy and eResource adventure designed for you. Start earning your Badge today at MeL.org [ [link removed] ]!

Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ], or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery [ [link removed] ]. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. 

MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.   www.imls.gov [ [link removed] ]  #IMLSGrant







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