Citizen Science

You do not need a lab coat to be a scientist. Citizen science lets kids and grown-ups help with real research. People count birds, check water, or take pictures of bugs. Scientists use this information to learn more about our planet.

How You Can Help

There are many easy ways to join citizen science. You can use a phone app to report plants you see in your yard. You can count birds at a feeder and share what you saw. Some kids help measure how clean a nearby stream is. Every bit of information helps scientists understand nature better.

Why It Matters

Scientists cannot be everywhere at once. With help from thousands of volunteers, they can learn things they could never find out alone. Citizen science has helped track monarch butterflies, bees, and frogs. It has even helped find new kinds of animals. Everyone can be part of important discoveries.

Fun Facts

• The Christmas Bird Count has been run by volunteers every year since 1900.
• A citizen science app called iNaturalist has over 100 million wildlife photos.
• Kids have discovered new planets by looking at space photos online.

Did You Know?

Some citizen scientists help NASA by watching the sky and reporting meteors they see at night.