Citizen scientists are volunteers who contribute to scientific projects, usually by collecting or analysing data. Citizen science projects can make science education more relevant and engaging, and they help to develop students’ science capabilities.
The following resources provide tips for planning and getting involved.
- Planning for students to be citizen scientists – professional development article
- Getting started with citizen science – webinar
- Online citizen science meets environmental care – video
- Down the drain – Connected article
- Sea science – Connected article
The following citizen science projects help students to identify and track trends involving litter and plastic pollution.
- Litter Intelligence – New Zealand-based project
- Backyard Battle – New Zealand-based project
- Mizuiku Upstream Battle – New Zealand-based project
- Litterati – international project
- Global Earth Challenge – international project, see its plastic pollution topic.
Image: Dianne Christenson, Koraunui School
