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| If you enjoy bird-watching, you can be a citizen scientist |
Most imagine that the world of physics, chemistry and
biology require a certain level of brain power and some may even assume the
subjects bring with them a certain level of boredom. Add on the perception of
the crazy mad scientist with wild hair and it is no wonder that the general
population runs away and avoids these topics as fast as they can.
If you are one to have held this assumption, then you might
be surprised to know that those who have found new planets and rediscovered
lost bird species – were and continue to be the result of everyday people, like
you and me. You don’t have to work in a lab or hold a degree in Microphysics to
be a “real” scientist. An individual can contribute in many ways to science and
even sometimes, do it right from the comfort of their back yard.
According to National Geographic online magazine, “Citizen
science is the practice of
public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase
scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people share and contribute to
data monitoring and collection programs. Collaboration in citizen science involves scientists and
researchers working with the public. Interested volunteers, amateur scientists, students, and educators
may network and promote new ideas to advance our understanding of the world.”
Although the term, citizen
science, is relatively new and has only been used for a short while, the
concept has been around for decades (and in some cases, centuries). There are a
variety of scientific fields that use citizen scientists such as astronomy, where citizen scientists collect
observations and take photos. In the world of ornithology, amateur birders contribute data on
breeding and migration. There are also the fields of medicine, botany and Limnology (study of lakes). In fact, since concerns
have surfaced regarding the health of the lakes in the Lakes Region
communities, citizen science has been an important factor to area studies of
the inland bodies of water.
The Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) have their own
citizen science volunteer program.
“We run a 20-week water quality monitoring program that goes
from May through September and involves collecting water samples every other
Saturday morning from somewhere in our five-town region,” stated Toby Jacobs,
PRLT Stewardship and Outreach Manager. “Most volunteers work in pairs or groups
of three and sample three sites per group. Samples are tested for dissolved
oxygen (high amounts of which is crucial for aquatic life) and bacteria (high
levels of which can make water dangerous for drinking or swimming).”
Results from last year and a bit more information about the
program is available at www.prlt.org/water.
Dave Nadeau, a Highland Lake resident and Windham Town
Council member, has been working closely with scientist, Keith Williams, to monitor
the water clarity as a result of the algae bloom the lake has been experiencing
the past couple of years. The data he receives contributes to information as
part of the study with the intent to identify and rectify the problem. “I use a
disc, called a secchi disk, and I lower it into the water until I can’t see the
disk any longer,” explained Nadeau. “I measure and record how many inches deep
the disc goes in order to determine the clarity of the water.”
Nadeau also measures how much oxygen is in the lake. He
began his volunteer efforts in July of last year, when the algae bloom began to
make its appearance. Being out on the lake during the day to monitor gave him
another opportunity to do an activity he enjoys. “When I am out on the lake to
record the data, I go fishing.”
If you are interested in becoming a citizen scientist, there
are a number of organizations that you can collaborate with. No matter what
your interest is, there is something for you. Here is a small list to get you
started.
*Photograph plants, animals, and other organisms on your own or as
part of a BioBlitz. Use
the iNaturalist app or iNaturalist.org to
upload your observations and add them to a global database of biodiversity to
support local to global research projects.
*Measure Night-Sky Brightness - Join the Globe
at Night program in documenting light pollution by
submitting data based on the visibility of constellations.
*Search Space - Want a chance to have an interstellar dust particle named after
you? Help NASA by volunteering for Stardust@home and searching images for tiny
interstellar dust impacts.
*Bird Watch - Join eBird, an online checklist project created by
the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. Ebird
allows people to report real-time bird sightings and observations.
If you are interested in participating with the PRLT, they
have a variety of volunteer opportunities, “We are always taking volunteers to
help us with trails to our new wildlife initiative to create habitat for key
species in the region,” stated Jacobs. “People can sign-up and obtain
information at www.prlt.org/get-involved.”
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