Helping the Environment Through Citizen Science!

Citizen science refers to the involvement of the public in scientific research. Data collected by citizen scientists can be of great importance to scientists, land managers, and the public for research, conservation, and planning.

Become a citizen scientist! Citizen science is open to everyone, regardless of age, education, or professional background. By being a citizen scientist, you can:

• Contribute to important scientific research and conservation
• Learn new skills and delve into topics that interest you
• Join a community and discuss your findings

Citizen Science Projects

Citizen science projects can involve everything from plant and animal observations to recording the weather. Popular projects include:

iNaturalist - the largest citizen science project devoted to general biodiversity. Record sightings of plants, animals, fungi, and insects. For more information, visit https://www.inaturalist.org/ or check out one of the local projects in Parkland County.

eBird - a citizen science platform for birdwatchers. Find bird hotspots, share your sightings, and track your lists. For more information, visit: https://ebird.org/home.

Breeding Bird Survey - a project for those with strong bird observation skills. This dataset is relied on heavily by researchers, wildlife managers, and The State of Canada's Birds report. For more information, visit Breeding Bird Survey overview - Canada.ca.

Visit Citizen Science - Parkland County for more!

Parkland County Library Kits

Pair citizen science apps like iNaturalist and eBird with the Parkland County library kits to contribute your observations to scientific research! Find your local library branch at www.parklandcounty.com/libraries to borrow a kit and get exploring.

Sources:

Become a citizen scientist - Study Work Grow

Citizen Science - Nature Alberta