How the Academy has used existing citizen science projects in its programming

1. Citizen Science at the
California Academy of
Sciences
Using existing projects to fill programmatic needs
Alison Young
Citizen Science Educator
California Academy of Sciences

2. Middle School Out-of-School-Time Program
Youth Community Science Action Clubs
• First program to engage middle school youth
• Promoting science learning in out-of-school time environments
through Science Action Clubs
• Build science skills in youth while maintaining a focus on community
action
• Train-the-trainer system – giving OST coordinators modules to pick
from
California Academy of Sciences

3. California Academy of Sciences

4. California Academy of Sciences

5. California Academy of Sciences

6. Careers in Science: intern program
» Year-round, multi-year science education and youth development
program for San Francisco youth
» Aimed at groups under-represented in the sciences
» Propel students to pursue a career in science through hands-on
experiences in the field and laboratory
» Build critical skills and capacities for academic and career success

7. Careers in Science: intern program
Mission:
» Provide diverse youth with opportunities to immerse themselves in
the natural world
» Explore potential science and education careers
» Central in Academy ladder of support for nurturing science
engagement
» Pivotal link that expands horizons and opens doors to professional
science careers

8. Conducting Authentic Scientific Research
» Hands-on field study
projects locally and afar
» Support research of
scientists and biologists

10. LiMPETS:
Long-term Monitoring
Program and
Experiential Training for
Students
Program Mission
To provide authentic, hands-on
classroom and coastal field
monitoring experiences that
connect teachers, students, and
the community to the ocean.

11. LiMPETS
Academy Careers in Science
Interns are trained to collect
intertidal data:
» Distribution and abundance
of mole crabs on sandy
beaches.
» 33 species of invertebrates
and algae on rocky shores.
» Data are used by the
sanctuary to establish a
baseline to better address
current and future impacts.
California Academy of Sciences

12. Ocean Beach Summer Sand Crab Abundance
40
35
Average # of crabs per sample
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
California Academy of Sciences

13. LiMPETS
Academy Careers in Science
Interns have been
participating since 2003:
» More than 200 students
total.
» Have presented their
findings at the American
Geophysical Union
conference.
California Academy of Sciences

14. Gulf of the Farallones National
Marine Sanctuary Partnership
Rocky Shore Partnership
Trains Academy docents and GFNMS
volunteers as rocky shore naturalists:
» Teach tidepool etiquette and natural
history at Duxbury Reef.
» Contribute to on-going intertidal
monitoring.
» Work in the California Coast exhibit at the
Academy.
California Academy of Sciences

15. Gulf of the Farallones National
Marine Sanctuary Partnership
Rocky Shore Partnership
Originally only collected data on visitor use
and rockweed abundance.
Adopted LiMPETS protocols:
• To add more depth and scientific meaning
to what the naturalists did at Duxbury.
• To allow adult Rocky Shore volunteers to
work with LiMPETS students in the field.
California Academy of Sciences

16. Citizen Science programs: websites
Celebrate Urban Birds:
www.celebrateurbanbirds.org
LiMPETS:
www.limpetsmonitoring.org
Rocky Shore Partnership:
www.calacademy.org/science/citizen_science/rocky_shore_partnership/