I share eleven different citizen science websites or apps that are easy to participate in and only require simple equipment like a computer/smartphone and Internet connection. Not just for kids, there are a lot of great citizen science projects here that adults can get involved in--I just curated this list to emphasize projects that are developmentally and cognitively doable for kids over the age of 8. I created this for a webinar for the Pasadena Public Library, on May 8, 2020.

1. Before we get started-- In the chat
box, please write your first name and
tell us if you consider yourself a:
1. Galactic Explorer or Artist
2. Animal Lover or World Traveler
3. Healer or Helper

2. Citizen Science
Kids Can Do At Home
With AnnMarie Kolakowski
Youth Services Librarian
Pasadena Public Library
Friday, May 8, 2020

3. What is “citizen science”?

4. Find lots of great projects on
SciStarter.org or Zooniverse.org!

5. Citizen Science for
Galactic Explorers
(and Artists, too!)

6. Spiral Graph

7. Help scientists
determine the
shape, size and
structure of
galaxies, and
draw the spiral
arms that might
be hard for
their computers
to spot.

8. You’ll be asked first to
say how structured the
galaxy is. You’ll call it
“smooth” if it just
looks like a big ball of
light.
Is this galaxy smooth,
or structured? Write
your answer in the
chat!

9. You’ll start with an image like this:

10. And trace over the arms to help
scientists measure their length:

11. Astro Quest

12. Help a computer
map galaxies.
Check to see that
it covered the
entire galaxy in
one color. And
make sure any
overlapping
galaxies or stars
are shown in a
different color.

13. Here’s an
example
where the
computer
colored the
galaxy
wrong:

14. So we edit it…

15. …until the
whole galaxy is
covered and
there is just a
small circle
showing the
overlapping
star:

16. Go on a
quest to get
progressively
harder
galaxies to
map:

17. Earn trophies
along the
way, and see
your name
rise up in the
leaderboard!

18. You get lots of information about each galaxy
you complete—like how big it is, how fast it’s
growing, and how many years it took for the
light to reach us.

19. There are
lots of
visual ways
to explore
your galaxy
in more
depth:

20. Citizen Science for
Animal Lovers
(and World Travelers!)

21. Osa Camera Trap Network

22. Osa Peninsula in
Costa Rica is known
for the rich
biodiversity of its
rainforests.
In Osa Camera
Trap, you’ll help
scientists identify
the species their
hidden cameras
caught.

23. Many of the photos will be of big cats such as
pumas, jaguars, ocelots and margays:

24. Sometimes, you might even help scientists
spot an endangered species!

25. You’ll be shown a photo, and asked to identify
what kind of animal it is using the types listed on
the sidebar.

26. Can you find the animal in the picture to the
right? What kind of animal do you think it is:
an ocelot, or an agouti? Write it in the chat!

27. Wild Mont-Blanc

28. Mont-Blanc Massif is a mountain
range in the Alps, bordering the
countries of France, Switzerland
and Italy. The region is home to
animals like the ibex, the chamois,
the red deer and the roe deer.

29. You’ll be reviewing the
photos caught by hidden
cameras, and identify what
species you see, how many
animals, and if there are
any young present.
Scientists will use the data
you give them to further
their understanding of how
climate change is
impacting alpine species!

30. Use the information they give you to
determine what kind of animal it is:

31. Once you’ve decided the species, note how
many you see and what they are doing:

32. You can use the “Looks like” tool to narrow
down your choices of animals:

33. And the “Horns and Antlers” tool may help you
narrow down what kind of deer or goat it is:

34. Can you write in the chat how many deer you
see here?

35. It’s a deer family!

36. Snapshot Safari

37. There are many different Snapshot Safari
projects you can participate in, and the photos
come from nature reserves in Kenya, Tanzania,
Botswana, South Africa and other countries:

38. You’ll be tagging photos captured by scientists’
hidden cameras to help them understand changes
in animal populations and habitats, and to aid in
their conservation and anti-poaching efforts.

39. Can you find the animal?

40. How about this one? Write what you see in the chat.

41. Citizen Science for
Healers and Helpers

42. Stall Catchers

43. Contribute to
Alzheimer’s
research by
watching videos of
blood flowing
through a subject’s
brain, and catching
if there are any
“stalls”: dark spots
that don’t light up
when they’re
supposed to.

44. If the blood
vessel seems to
flow the way
it’s supposed to,
lighting up in
the right
sequence, then
it’s “Flowing.”

45. See your points
rack up with
each challenge
and your name
rise in the
leaderboard.
There’s me! I made it
to 10th place! LOL!

46. But that’s not the only reason I enjoy
playing Stallcatchers. This is the reason:

47. Let’s try it!

48. Even More Citizen
Science Projects to Try!

49. Seek App by iNaturalist
Go around your
neighborhood
with your phone
camera, and aim
it at different
plants. Then let
the app tell you
what species
you’re looking at!

50. Loss of the Night App by GLOBE
Look for certain
stars in the night
sky and tell
scientists if you
are able to see
them or not.

51. NeMO-Net App by NASA
Kind of like
AstroQuest, paint
the coral that
you see to help
scientists map
the coral reefs.
Learn about
marine life and
get badges along
the way!

52. Digital Fishers by Ocean Networks
Canada
Describe the wildlife
you see in these
deep-sea videos from
Canada. Help
scientists track and
count the animals on
the ocean floor. Earn
badges and advance
in levels!

53. Floating Forests by Zooniverse
Look through
satellite photos
and circle the
green areas to
identify them as
kelp patches.
Help scientists
track changes
from climate
change.

54. Keep track of all your
projects by making an
account on SciStarter.org:

55. Out of all the projects we
looked at, which one are you
most interested in joining?
Write your answer in the chat!
• Spiral Graph
• Astro Quest
• Osa Camera Trap
• Wild Mont-Blanc
• Snapshot Safari
• Stall Catchers
• Seek app
• Loss of the Night app
• NeMO-Net app
• Digital Fishers
• Floating Forests

56. Join us on Monday for more
Citizen Science – and learn how
you can join in the fight to stop
COVID-19!
Monday, May 11 at 3 pm
Sign up HERE

57. Before you go and check out
these great projects, please
take our survey:
https://bit.ly/NS2PSurvey