Abstract


Counting Stars and Watching Buds Burst: Citizen Science in Action
Track: Teaching with GIS in Schools
Author(s): Dennis Ward, Kirsten Meymaris, Sandra Henderson, Susan Gallagher, Charlie Fitzpatrick, Tom Baker

The term "Citizen Science" is often used for a project or ongoing program of scientific work in which a network of volunteers, who may or may not have scientific training, perform research-related tasks such as observation, measurement or computation. The use of such networks often allows scientists to accomplish research objectives that would otherwise not be possible, but ultimately these projects promote public engagement with the research, as well as science in general. This session will share the latest results from two such projects (Project BudBurst and GLOBE at Night) and demonstrate how students and scientists can analyze the results using ArcGIS Explorer and AEJEE. We will discuss how the project team planned and executed these projects in such a way that everyday citizens of all ages were able to make valid and useful contributions. We will also discuss lessons learned and best practices based on prior citizen science campaigns and share our plans for upcoming events.

Dennis Ward
UCAR / NCAR
Office of Education & Outreach
PO Box 3000
CG2-3042
Boulder , CO 80307-3000
US
Phone: 303.497.2599
E-mail: dward@ucar.edu

Kirsten Meymaris
UCAR
PO Box 3000
Boulder , CO 80307-3000
US
Phone: 303.497.2583
E-mail: kirstenm@ucar.edu

Sandra Henderson
UCAR
PO Box 3000
Boulder , CO 80307-3000
US
Phone: 303.497.8108
E-mail: sandrah@ucar.edu

Susan Gallagher
UCAR
PO Box 3000
Boulder , CO 80307-3000
US
Phone: 303.497.2580
E-mail: sgallagh@ucar.edu

Charlie Fitzpatrick
Esri
1305 Corporate Center Drive
Suite 250
St. Paul , MN 55121-1204
US
Phone: 651.994.0823
E-mail: cfitzpatrick@Esri.com

Tom Baker
Esri
8700 State Line Rd.
Suite 315
Leawood , KS 66206
US
Phone: 913.383.8235
E-mail: tbaker@Esri.com