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YOUR SCIENCE ADVENTURE(S) BEGIN AT THE LIBRARY!

Citizen Science in your Summer Reading Program.

March 27, 2024

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This webinar will be recorded and sent in a follow up email tomorrow.

Welcome!

Please tell us your name, organization, and location in the chat.

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Choose Your Science Adventure!

Tell us why in the chat!

Underwater Adventures

Backyard Explorers

Cosmic Quest

Wildlife Detectives

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A Word from the Collaborative Summer Library Program

Dawn Krause, Executive Director

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Today’s Learning Goals

  • Gain basic understanding of citizen science
  • Be exposed to cs projects and stem activities that tie into the summer reading theme
  • Learn about resources from SciStarter and STAR NET to support your programming

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Temperature Checks!

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WHAT IS CITIZEN SCIENCE?

It’s also referred to public participation in science, community science, open science.

A global movement that enables people from all walks of life to collaborate with scientists by participating in real scientific research.��It’s how people can make an impact on issues they care about!

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BECAUSE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, WE KNOW THAT…

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Not your average science programming…

Citizen Science activities involve:

  • Collecting data like an image or measurement.
  • Analyzing data online.
  • Following protocols or a common set of instructions to ensure data quality.
  • Sharing or reporting back information as instructed, which is usually through an online form, app, social media, etc.
  • Connected to a research project led by a scientist, concerned community member, or other stakeholder.
  • May be listed on SciStarter and/or connected to a crowdsourcing platform like Zooniverse or INaturalist.

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Join Our Networks

SciStarter.org/library-network

https://community.starnetlibraries.org

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Science Adventure Themes

Underwater Adventures

Backyard Explorers

Cosmic Quest

Wildlife Detectives

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Be a Citizen Scientist

Engage in STEM Activities

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Building Awareness &

Sparking Interest

SciStarter.org/library

Book Displays, Inquiry Posters, Rack Cards, Flyers

Online, interactive module created by instructional designers at Arizona State University.

SciStarter.org/training

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Underwater Adventures

MYCOAST (all ages, outside, near waterways)

Document tides, storm damage, beach cleanups

MARINE DEBRIS TRACKER (all ages, outside, global)

Contribute research data to help tackle the plastic pollution crisis

DOLPHIN CHAT (all ages, online, global)

Identify and classify dolphin vocalizations

CROWD WATER (middle school+, outside, global)

Collect hydrological data using a smartphone app

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HANDS-ON WATER ACTIVITIES

POLAR BEARS GO WITH THE FLOES

Collaborative game that builds an understanding of how human actions impact global change

Intended audience: tweens; families

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Polar Bears Go with the Floes

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Science Connections

The ice caps of the Arctic and Antarctic are important regulators of the global climate and ocean temperatures.

Sea ice provides vital habitat to animals.

Human activity is contributing to climate change, causing a decline in sea ice.

1984

2012

Credit: NASA

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HANDS-ON UNDERWATER ACTIVITIES

OTHER UNDERWATER ACTIVITIES:

A DROP IN THE BUCKET

CATCH! THE WORLD’S OCEANS

MAKE AN OCEAN ECOSYSTEM DESSERT

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Cosmic Quest

DISK DETECTIVE (Middle School+, online, global)

Search for dusty debris around stars where distant worlds dwell

GLOBE AT NIGHT (all ages, outside, global)

Measure light pollution

SUNGRAZER (challenging, online, competitive, global)

Find comets that “graze” past our sun

CLOUDSPOTTING ON MARS (10+, online, global)

Identify clouds in the atmosphere of Mars

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HANDS-ON SPACE ACTIVITIES

PARKER SOLAR PROBE PAPERCRAFT

Model of Parker Solar Probe​

First spacecraft to pass through the low solar corona​

Simple supplies​ (cardstock/heavy paper, coloring/drawing supplies, scissors, liquid glue)​

Pair with JWST papercraft and explore other uncrewed NASA craft

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HANDS-ON SPACE ACTIVITIES

PARKER SOLAR PROBE PAPERCRAFT

Model of Parker Solar Probe​

First spacecraft to pass through the low solar corona​

Simple supplies​ (cardstock/heavy paper, coloring/drawing supplies, scissors, liquid glue)​

Pair with JWST papercraft and explore other uncrewed NASA craft

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HANDS-ON SPACE ACTIVITIES

OTHER SPACE EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES:

SODA STRAW ROCKET

BUILD A SPACE COLONY

MISSION TO SPACE BOARD GAME

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Backyard Explorers

ISEECHANGE (all ages, outside, global)

Document changes in your environment

INATURALIST(all ages, outside, global)

Identify wildlife right outside your front door

GREAT SUNFLOWER PROJECT(all ages, outside, global)

Monitor Pollinator Activity

GLOBE OBSERVER: Clouds (all ages, outside, global)

Download the app and help NASA scientists learn about planet Earth.

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HANDS-ON NATURE ACTIVITIES

WAFFLE GARDENS

A technique developed centuries ago by Indigenous Peoples of the American southwest that is still used today

Can be done as a Take & Make Kit or facilitated program.

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Record your observations on the data collection sheets to track how often you need to water the first tray compared to the waffle garden tray.

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HANDS-ON NATURE ACTIVITIES

OTHER NATURE ACTIVITIES:

HOME SWEET HOME

WIND STREAMER

SEASON SEEKING

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Wildlife Detectives

INSTANT WILD (all ages, online, global)

Connect people with the natural world & create useful conservation data

ZOMBEE WATCH (all ages, outside, North America)

Record and report where the Zombie Fly is infecting and killing bees

PROJECT SQUIRREL (all ages, outside, USA)

Help scientists better understand tree squirrel ecology

GLOBE OBSERVER: MOSQUITO MAPPER (all ages, outside)

Document mosquito habitats and identify different types of mosquitoes

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HANDS-ON ANIMAL ACTIVITIES

BUILD-A-BUG

Explore the adaptations of aquatic macroinvertebrates (small water bugs)

Build out of any craft materials

Clearinghouse includes in-depth how-to video and implementation guide

Easily made into a take-and-make kit

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HANDS-ON ANIMAL ACTIVITIES

OTHER ANIMAL ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES:

ADAPTATION: A WAY OF LIFE

ADAPTATIONS OF CAVE CRITTERS

BIRD BEAK

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EVENT EXAMPLE: Party for Pollinators

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EVENT EXAMPLE: Star Party

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EVENT EXAMPLE: BIOBLITZ

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Resources

  • Editable Slide Deck & Facilitator Guide
  • STEM Activity Clearinghouse
  • Promotional Materials
  • Kit Building Guides
  • Event Recipe Cards
  • Social Media Toolkit

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Visit SciStarter.org/citizensciencemonth for more information.

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Upcoming Opportunities

Reviving Nature's Narrative: Leveraging Libraries for Rewilding Initiatives

April 22, 2024

11AM PT/2 PM ET

NGCP Celebrates Citizen Science

April 30, 2024

12PM PT/ 3PM ET