How to Be a Citizen Scientist and Find Organizations

If you are a nature enthusiast, you probably love exploring and making notes about what you see and find interesting. What if the information you find can be used to help preserve nature? Have you ever thought about being a citizen scientist?

Why Become a Citizen Scientist?

You are in the right place to find out how to be a citizen scientist and find organizations in North America that will welcome your observations.

Becoming a citizen scientist can be an incredibly rewarding and important experience for many reasons and here are the top ten:

1. Contributing to Real-World Science: As a citizen scientist, you directly contribute to ongoing research and help solve real-world problems, whether it’s monitoring climate change, tracking biodiversity, or mapping the stars. Your data might seem small to you but can be crucial for scientific discoveries.
   
2. Learning and Skill Development: It is an opportunity to learn a new skill set, especially if you are coming from a non scientific background. You learn more about science and technology while gaining hands-on experience. You can learn about ecosystems, data analysis, or even how to use specialized equipment, which can be both enriching and useful in various fields.
   
3. Sense of Purpose: It is good to know that your citizen contribution is small part of a greater whole. By contributing to something like environmental conservation or medical research, you gain a sense of accomplishment and purpose. You become part of a global community working towards positive change.
   
4. Making a Difference: Your actions, even as an individual, can have a meaningful impact. Whether it’s improving the accuracy of climate models, tracking endangered species, or identifying new astronomical objects, the work you do contributes to important knowledge and decisions.
   
5. Involvement in the Scientific Process: You will find out how the science in your particular field works. You will be at the forefront of any discoveries. From hypothesis testing, data collection, and interpretation, the data you collect will play an integral part, which can deepen your understanding of how science works.
   
6. Improving Critical Thinking: Let’s just say it gives the brain a good workout. Citizen science often requires observation, analysis, and interpretation, all of which enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s a way to engage with scientific inquiry in an accessible way.
   
7. Collaboration and Community: You find your tribe. Some people like butterflies, some like frogs. You get to interact with like-minded people, share ideas, and work in collaboration with professional scientists. It’s a great way to meet others who share your passion for learning and contributing to science.
   
8. No Formal Training Needed: No Ph.D required, you will be the eyes on the ground. Many citizen science projects do not need formal education or scientific expertise. You can start contributing right away, regardless of your background, which makes it an inclusive field for anyone interested in science.
   
9. Access to Data and Findings: You will be the first to know as your data contributes to the greater whole of a project. Many citizen science projects share their findings publicly, which means you can see the impact of your contributions in real-time. This transparency fosters a sense of accomplishment and connection to the scientific community.
   
10. Satisfaction from Discovery: Enjoy the thrill of the chase. Imagine making discoveries—whether it’s spotting a rare plant species or identifying a potential scientific anomaly. That feeling of finding something new is beyond rewarding. In addition, the collection can be combined with something else, like forest bathing.

Overall, becoming a citizen scientist is doing your part to help the planet as we are all connected. One can connect with the world of research while making tangible contributions to science, all while learning and growing personally.

List of Citizen Science Projects in North America

Here is a list of citizen science programs for nature enthusiasts in the USA and Canada. These programs allow you to contribute to scientific research while engaging with the natural world around you:

United States

1. eBird
   • Focus: Birdwatching
   • Description: A global project that encourages bird enthusiasts to submit bird sightings and create a database that aids in bird conservation and research.
   • Website: eBird
2. iNaturalist
   • Focus: Wildlife observation (plants, animals, fungi, etc.)
   • Description: A platform for identifying and sharing observations of biodiversity. Helps scientists track species distribution.
   • Website: iNaturalist
3. The Great Backyard Bird Count
   • Focus: Birdwatching
   • Description: An annual event where people count birds in their backyards, providing data on bird populations across North America.
   • Website: Great Backyard Bird Count
4. Monarch Watch
   • Focus: Monarch butterfly conservation
   • Description: Focuses on tracking monarch butterflies’ migration and breeding patterns to help with conservation efforts.
   • Website: Monarch Watch
5. North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP)
   • Focus: Amphibians
   • Description: Volunteers help monitor amphibian populations across the U.S. by listening to their calls at night and reporting findings.
   • Website: NAAMP
6. CoCoRaHS
   • Focus: Precipitation
   • Description: The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network allows volunteers to measure and report local rainfall, snow, and hail.
   • Website: CoCoRaHS
7. Zooniverse
   • Focus: Various environmental topics
   • Description: A platform hosting a variety of citizen science projects, including many related to nature and wildlife.
   • Website: Zooniverse
8. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Citizen Science
   • Focus: Wildlife monitoring
   • Description: Participate in efforts to track species in specific regions (such as wolves, bison, and other wildlife) and report findings for conservation purposes.
   • Website: WCS Citizen Science
9. Bee Watch
   • Focus: Bees
   • Description: Contribute to the study of bees by uploading photos of bees and their locations to track their populations and habitats.
   • Website: Bee Watch
10. FrogWatch USA
    • Focus: Amphibians
    • Description: Volunteers listen to frog calls during spring and summer and report their findings to monitor frog populations across the U.S.
    • Website: FrogWatch USA

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Canada

1. NatureWatch Canada
   • Focus: Various species
   • Description: A network of citizen science programs in Canada, including projects for monitoring species like frogs, birds, and butterflies.
   • Website: NatureWatch Canada
2. iNaturalist Canada
   • Focus: Biodiversity
   • Description: A Canadian version of the iNaturalist platform, encouraging people to record and share their nature observations for scientific purposes.
   • Website: iNaturalist Canada
3. Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
   • Focus: Birdwatching
   • Description: A long-running citizen science project where volunteers count bird species during the winter months.
   • Website: Christmas Bird Count
4. Canadian Climate Data and Scenarios (CCDS)
   • Focus: Climate change and weather
   • Description: A program where volunteers can report local weather patterns to help scientists understand the impacts of climate change in Canada.
   • Website: CCDS
5. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario
   • Focus: Birdwatching
   • Description: Volunteers help track breeding bird species across Ontario, contributing to important data on bird populations.
   • Website: Breeding Birds of Ontario
6. Tree Canada Tree Counting
   • Focus: Trees
   • Description: A program where volunteers track and report on the health and numbers of trees in urban and rural areas.
   • Website: Tree Canada
7. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
   • Focus: Environmental conservation (beaches and shorelines)
   • Description: This annual cleanup event encourages Canadians to help protect shorelines and marine environments by collecting trash from beaches.
   • Website: Shoreline Cleanup
8. FrogWatch Ontario
   • Focus: Amphibians
   • Description: Similar to FrogWatch USA, this program engages volunteers in Ontario to monitor frog calls and populations.
   • Website: FrogWatch Ontario
9. Boreal Birds Program (Birds Canada)
   • Focus: Boreal forest bird species
   • Description: Volunteers monitor and track bird species in the boreal forests of Canada, helping to protect these vital ecosystems.
   • Website: Boreal Birds
10. Pollinator Partnership Canada
    • Focus: Pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.)
    • Description: A program dedicated to the conservation of pollinators across Canada. Volunteers can help by reporting pollinator sightings and habitat conditions.
    • Website: Pollinator Partnership Canada

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Mexico

1. eBird Mexico

Focus: Birdwatching and biodiversity
About: eBird is a global platform where birdwatchers record sightings of birds. In Mexico, this project contributes valuable data to understanding bird populations and migration patterns. Participants log their observations of birds, which are then used for conservation purposes and to monitor changes in biodiversity.

• Website: eBird

2. Proyecto Tigrillo (Jaguarundi Project)

Focus: Wildlife conservation
About: This project involves the monitoring of jaguarundis (a small wild cat) and other wildlife in the Sierra de Tamaulipas region. Volunteers participate in fieldwork, helping set up cameras and gather data on the species’ presence and behavior.

• Website: Proyecto Tigrillo

3. Red de Observadores de Aves (Birdwatchers Network)

Focus: Birdwatching and conservation
About: This initiative connects birdwatchers across Mexico, encouraging them to record sightings and contribute data to support conservation. It also promotes the awareness of migratory birds and the protection of bird habitats.

• Website: Red de Observadores de Aves

4. Ciencia Ciudadana en México (Citizen Science in Mexico)

Focus: General scientific research
About: This platform consolidates various citizen science initiatives across the country, where participants can collaborate with researchers in fields like ecology, climate change, and biodiversity. It includes a variety of projects that allow citizens to contribute data on environmental changes and species observation.

• Website: Ciencia Ciudadana en México

5. Biología en el Aire (Biology in the Air)

Focus: Atmospheric science and pollution monitoring
About: This project involves volunteers using sensors to monitor air quality, contributing to a broader understanding of pollution levels across Mexico. The data is used by researchers to study air quality and its impacts on health and the environment.

• Website: Biología en el Aire

6. Áreas Naturales Protegidas (Protected Natural Areas)

Focus: Ecosystem monitoring and conservation
About: The Mexican government works alongside citizens to monitor and conserve protected natural areas. Participants in this project help collect data on biodiversity, land use, and environmental health within these protected areas, supporting conservation efforts.

• Website: Conanp

7. La Ciencia al Rescate (Science to the Rescue)

Focus: Environmental and climate change education
About: Aimed at raising awareness about climate change and environmental protection, this project encourages participants to monitor changes in local ecosystems. Volunteers can gather data on various environmental factors such as water quality, plant growth, and wildlife populations.

• Website: La Ciencia al Rescate

Final Thoughts…

These programs cover a wide range of interests, from birdwatching and amphibians to plants, climate monitoring, and environmental conservation, offering nature lovers a way to directly contribute to scientific efforts. If you know of any other citizen science opportunities in the area, let us know in the comments below. Happy research participation.