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Confluence Retirement
Due to the feedback from stakeholders and our commitment to not adversely impact USGS science activities that Confluence supports, we are extending the migration deadline to
January 2023.
In an effort to consolidate USGS hosted Wikis, myUSGS’ Confluence service is targeted for retirement. The official USGS Wiki and collaboration space is now SharePoint. Please migrate existing spaces and content to the SharePoint platform and remove it from Confluence at your earliest convenience. If you need any additional information or have any concerns about this change, please contact
myusgs@usgs.gov. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Please note that key information required by senior managers to evaluate and rank all CDI proposals will be extracted from this page and copied into the required synoptic FY 2012 Proposals page for their convenience.
Overview
Engaging the public in scientific endeavors has a long history. Amateur ornithologists monitored birds in 17th century Finland, and in Victorian England, citizen astronomers participated in the great Transits of Venus to accurately measure the distance from the earth to the sun. The Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 and has yielded long records of North American bird distribution (USGS volunteers have monitored the "Brooke Circle" in Virginia continuously since 1947). Citizen science is the term now commonly used to describe projects in which non-specialist volunteers collect observations and measurements or perform computations for use in science projects (Turnbull, et al., 2000). In recent years, the Internet, smart phones, and social media have revolutionized the way data can be collected by interested individuals and shared with researchers, resulting in a proliferation of these projects. While questions have been raised about the accuracy of citizen science data, research is beginning to show that, properly constrained and managed, citizen science can produce data that compare favorably to authoritative data acquired by professional researchers (e.g. Haklay, 2010). The engagement of citizen scientists is increasingly viewed as a critical means of extending the reach of the research community "on the landscape", particularly where there are insufficient staff resources to generate the baseline and on-going monitoring and other data required to address complex scientific issues because such activities are expensive, labor intensive, and time consuming (Lee, et al., 2006; Silvertown, 2009).
USGS and Citizen Science
The USGS has a number of well-known citizen science efforts. The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), a well-known USGS program started in 1966, tracks the status and trends of North American bird populations. Citizens collect important bird observations which are used to track abundance. Did You Feel It? is a website sponsored by the Earthquake Program that asks citizens to report ground shaking during an earthquake. Volunteers for the National Phenology Network monitor the life cycles of animals and plants and help digitize records of bird and animal distribution that date back to the 19th century. Many other USGS citizen science efforts, many championed by individual scientists in distributed centers, are not as well known to one another nor to the USGS at large. A forum for exchanging information could potentially provide immediate benefit to these projects and increase the visibility of these projects within and outside the USGS. Potential citizen science project leaders might need answers to these questions:
How does one design a project, recruit, train, and retain volunteers?
What types of data are appropriate candidates for collection by citizen scientists?
Are there best practices that can be inferred and shared from established projects?
What policy issues are encountered in citizen science projects, and how can these be addressed without undue burden on project participants and leaders?
What data collection and management standards should be followed to ensure data can be integrated and shared?
The Citizen Science Working Group of the Community for Data Integration is proposing a USGS-wide meeting of citizen science project leaders inside USGS and in other partner organizations to raise awareness of citizen science and its potential uses and benefits, share best practices for establishing citizen science projects, working with volunteers, collecting and validating data, education, and communication.
Workshop Outcomes and Benefits
An immediate and significant workshop outcome will be the formation of an ongoing community-based infrastructure for sharing ideas, data, and support. Additionally the workshop will provide a venue for:
Initiating projects that might span multiple mission areas;
Showcasing USGS tools, including new mobile applications, supporting field observations and data collection;
Exploring innovative techniques, such as whether mining data from social media can improve interdisciplinary scientific decision making;
Enhancing and expanding partnerships will provide important opportunities for the USGS research community to:
Foster cross group pollination, both internally and externally;
Exchange and communicate ideas, plans, use cases, and focus among groups (e.g., with the TSWG Mobile Applications Development Focus Group for Citizen Science-oriented projects);
Identify new avenues and approaches for research; and
Increase efficiency and effectiveness of their projects by leveraging activities and resources and minimizing overlap with partner groups.
In addition to directly supporting the USGS's internal program of research, the results of this workshop could have additional societal benefits including:
Making USGS science more approachable and understandable to students, teachers, and the general public;
Expanding science knowledge and scientific literacy among citizen science volunteers (Bonney, et al., 2009); and
Prepare workshop materials (deliverables) for publication
Publish informal workshop report (to CDI)
Publish formal workshop report (OFR)
Report out findings at large national science meeting, e.g., the Participatory Science for Conservation Conference (PSCC)
Preserve and Share Knowledge
Set up and populate USGS Citizen Science website (extranet)
In-kind Costs
Program Committee: 10 FTE (1440 hours)
On-Site Logistical Support: 5 FTE (3 days
Participant Attendance (35 estimate)
Workshop Committee Attendance (4)
Poster Session
Direct Costs
Travel: 2 Plenary Speakers and 3 others in need
Workshop Committee Attendance (6)
Workshop Refreshments
Distributed Materials (name tags, folders, agendas, abstracts, list of participants)
OFR Preparation (0.1 FTE/ 12 months)
EPN Services
Website Preparation (0.05 FTE/ 100 hours)
Travel to PSCC or other suitable large national science meeting
Workshop
Reports:
Open-File Report (formal)
CDI Workshop Report (informal) - Snapshot of Citizen Science Project within USGS
USGS Citizen Science Website
Action Plan for future directions in citizen science research within the USGS/DOI
Knowledgebase: Collection and Sharing of Best Practices
Proposed Guidance on Crowd-Sourced Citizen Science Relative to USGS Volunteer Handbook
Mission Area Benefits
Climate: National Phenology Network provides extensive baseline datasets for comparison when researching the effects of climate change
Hazards: Open Street Map assists rescuers during disasters; Did You Feel It? provides more data about earthquakes and their effect on citizens
Ecosystems: National Phenology Network and Breeding Bird Survey provide extensive datasets about species that would not be collected otherwise
Increased exposure and recognition for USGS CS projects within the larger scientific community, not just in their local Science Centers.
Greatly expand data collection potential by harnessing citizen scientists. Citizen scientists can provide a broad geographic 'sensor network' beyond our scientists' reach.
USGS researchers made aware of internal and external citizen science projects and their potential value to non-participating research programs
Potential to leverage existing work and achievements from other initiatives such as DataOne's Public Participation in Science and Research (2 CSWG members overlap) and Cornell's Citizen Science Central.
Potential to leverage efforts of and create synergy among the CS researchers and the USGS External Communications and Citizen Engagement team in the Office of Communications, and other DOI initiatives such as the Youth In the Great Outdoors and the White House's America's Great Outdoors programs.
Snapshot of status of citizen science research within the USGS/DOI Agencies and partners
Increased awareness of citizen science activities within USGS/DOI and partner agencies; workshop report can be distributed to other agencies to inform and educate on our efforts;
Make USGS science more approachable and understandable to students, teachers, and the general public;
Expand science knowledge and scientific literacy among citizen participants.
$87,065
$39,331
Assumptions (for Costing Purposes)
Size, Venue, Dates, Duration
Size: 50-60 on-site participants including select non-USGS partners, collaborators, or others; remote access via WebEx
Place: Denver Federal Center
Date: Late Spring 2012 (April-May)
Duration: 3 days (2.5 days workshop plus travel)
Artifacts
Brief Summary Workshop Report: 3 page summary of meeting post-workshop.
Workshop Report:
50-60 pages;
USGS-series publication, e.g., an Open-File Report (OFR) or Scientific Investigations Report (SIR) or, if unfunded,
an informal summary report for limited distribution to workshop sponsors and participants
Website: USGS-hosted Public/Extranet/Intranet to
maintain and share key information & documents;
link to CDI Citizen Science Working Group and related communities in DOI and elsewhere
Workshop documents: Presentations, posters, white paper(s), etc.,
posted to CDI-CSWG wiki and/or proposed website, and incorporated in workshop report (as appropriate)
Presentation on work at CDI Annual Workshop in 2012, presenting preliminary results from our Brief Summary Workshop Report.
Action Plans laying out short-term goals of citizen science within USGS, DOI, and partner agencies.
General Thoughts and Suggestions
The focus should be on shedding light on existing projects within USGS and partners (including DOI), and educating others on how citizen science could help their studies/research
Provide WebEx access for folks who cannot attend the workshop in person
Include information in workshop summary/reports from projects/programs who are not represented in person at the workshop
Include abstract/summary of project along with contact information for each project/program - head start on this using Barbara Poore's inventory/survey
Goal to produce a document representing the current status of citizen science and research within the USGS/partner agencies
What can we glean/learn from existing projects in all the areas of interest?
Invite speakers from well established projects outside the USGS/partners realm (since many other groups are leaps ahead)
Those attending would learn how to set up new projects, technical aspects of citizen science projects (data management, standards adoption, technology choices, novel approaches), case studies of existing projects, dealing with challenges and breaking down barriers within the USGS and in the science world.
Create partnerships and relationships with other citizen science working groups and focus groups such as DataOne's Public Participation in Science and Research (PPSR), Cornell's Citizen Science Central, and others. Foster cross group pollination and share information:
Exchange and communicate ideas, plans, focus among groups
Leverage activities of DataOne's PPSR and Cornell group
Have two working group members (Jake Weltzin (NPN/USGS) and Kelly Lotts (Montana State University)) on the CDI CSWG who will act as liaisons with DataOne
Establish new CSWG focus groups and identify areas for future development and attention through the working group
QA/QC benefits of mobile data collection (per Sally Holl TWSC - How mobile data collection factor into contributions to citizen science - largely the mechanism for contributing to CS projects)
Needs and future directions in USGS/Citizen Science partnerships
Panel;
breakout
Discussions and kickoffs for new focus groups
Policy Barriers group
Address continuing or upcoming challenges
Include folks who have some kind of power to push issue resolution (or establish contacts with those who do have that power)
Discovery group
Continue the discovery and sharing of new/existing projects, establishing document store/knowledge-base of their activities
Scheduling meetings for future CSWG meetings, inviting or outreach to other USGS scientists
Training group
Have presenters demonstrate various how tos
Expansion of internal/external participation in CSWG and related activities
New issue-specific focus groups within CSWG
Brainstorm ideas for new focus groups needed
Solicit membership
Staffing (Planning, Execution, and Follow-up)
Feasibility to complete by July 2012
The CSWG's desire is to hold the workshop in spring of 2012 (April-May 2012). Ideally, we would have six months to plan and prepare for the workshop, however, we can likely accept a minimum of four months preparation time for the development and planning of logistics and sessions, and to be considerate of our invited/solicited speakers and participants who will need to arrange and check on funding for travel.
The development of a short summary report (approximately 3 pages) can be expected before July 2012, but the larger workshop report (OFR or SIR) and website providing access to more detailed information may be delivered past that date due to their reliance on materials and information gleaned at the actual workshop. The Workshop Report Development team can do some pre-workshop development using contributed abstracts and inventory information, however much of the information gleaned from discussions and interactions at the workshop will need to be written and included post-workshop completion.
Proposed Workshop Planning Team
Jake Weltzin - NPN/USGS/member of D1 PPSR WG
Barbara Poore - USGS/CEGIS
Megan Hines - UW/USGS
Dave Govoni - USGS/OEI
Sue Hazlett - USGS/ERGC
Kelly Lotts - Montana State University/Representative back to D1
Eric Wolf - USGS/CEGIS
Elizabeth Sellers - USGS/CSAS
Steve Tessler - USGS/WRD
Sarah Courchesne - Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine/SEANET
Abby Benson - USGS/CSAS
Proposed Workshop Report Development Team
Elizabeth Sellers - USGS/CSAS
Dave Govoni - USGS/OEI
Abby Benson - USGS/CSAS
Proposed Website Development Team
Megan Hines - UW/USGS
Dave Govoni - USGS/OEI (Information Architecture design)
From: Katharine S Schindler <kschindl@usgs.gov>
Subject: Re: Example Workshop Reports per Coversation
Date: September 27, 2011 4:14:04 PM EDT
To: David L. Govoni <dgovoni@usgs.gov>
September 27, 2011
Hi Dave,
Thanks for stopping by this past Friday.
I spoke with Anna Glover this morning and described to her the sort of report you had in mind. She was familiar with both Geoinformatics reports and emphasized to me that it really comes down to the number and quality of illustrations.
I looked through our records and compiled how much it cost to produce Geoinformatics 2007 and 2008 and then I got the numbers for a couple of proceedings volumes. These four books were printed; the numbers shown below do not include the cost of printing.
Geoinformatics 2007 (SIR 2007-5199)---This 104-page report (with 55 figures) cost $18,865 to edit, produce, and post.
Geoinformatics 2008 (SIR 2008-5172)---This 76-page report (with 31 figures) cost $17,091.25 to edit, produce, and post.
Proceedings of the Second All-USGS Modeling Conference, February 11-14, 2008: Painting the Big Picture (SIR 2009-5013)---This 70-page report (with no figures) cost $6,448.75 to edit, produce, and post.
Proceedings of the Third USGS Modeling Conference: Understanding and Predicting for a Changing World, June 7-11, 2010 (SIR 2011-5147): This job is still in production; probably similar in page length to the second proceedings volume. $8,318.75 has been billed up to this point. The final cost will probably come in around $10,000 or a little under (not including the cost of printing). I don't know how many figures there are.
So how much would it cost to produce a 75-page book (with an undetermined number of figures)? It appears from the numbers given above that the fewer number of figures, the lower the cost. A best guess for your book might be between $10,000 and $15,000 depending on the number and quality of the figures, with a big emphasis on the quality of the figures given to us.
Please bear in mind that this is a very rough estimate and was given without seeing any of the materials. We only bill for the hours we work at the rate of $55 per hour.
I think at this point, that’s the best I can do. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Kate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katharine S. Schindler
USGS--Office of Communications
Science Publishing Network
903 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: (703) 648-4338; Fax: (703) 648-6138
kschindl@usgs.gov
External Web site: www.usgs.gov
From: "David L. Govoni" <dgovoni@usgs.gov>
To: kschindl@usgs.gov
Date: 09/22/2011 04:27 PM
Subject: Example Workshop Reports per Our Conversation
Katherine --
Here are some citations, including a couple of new ones. The SIRs offer the best examples of potential content.
In addition to the attachment on this page (DFCconfRooms.xls), here are some notes from Scott McEwen
Hi Megan,
There's no cost to using the DFC Bldg 810 Auditorium. To reserve, call Amanda at 303-236-1969; she's with GSA, who now oversees the room. After making the reservation, the other services have to be obtained individually; e.g., for use of the audio system, contact Ben Kelley; for Internet access, contact Buster Keaton. Plan to bring help to setup tables and chairs. Holler if you have trouble locating these guys in the USGS address book.
There are also other rooms available in other DFC buildings. I should update my spreadsheet and send to you.
The USGS National Training Center rooms in Bldg 53 *do* come with a cost, but also come with a great service staff. Contact Alan Ward for info.
I'd be glad to help you with more info, as well as set up.
2 Comments
Govoni, David L.
From: Katharine S Schindler <kschindl@usgs.gov>
Subject: Re: Example Workshop Reports per Coversation
Date: September 27, 2011 4:14:04 PM EDT
To: David L. Govoni <dgovoni@usgs.gov>
September 27, 2011
Hi Dave,
Thanks for stopping by this past Friday.
I spoke with Anna Glover this morning and described to her the sort of report you had in mind. She was familiar with both Geoinformatics reports and emphasized to me that it really comes down to the number and quality of illustrations.
I looked through our records and compiled how much it cost to produce Geoinformatics 2007 and 2008 and then I got the numbers for a couple of proceedings volumes. These four books were printed; the numbers shown below do not include the cost of printing.
Geoinformatics 2007 (SIR 2007-5199)---This 104-page report (with 55 figures) cost $18,865 to edit, produce, and post.
Geoinformatics 2008 (SIR 2008-5172)---This 76-page report (with 31 figures) cost $17,091.25 to edit, produce, and post.
Proceedings of the Second All-USGS Modeling Conference, February 11-14, 2008: Painting the Big Picture (SIR 2009-5013)---This 70-page report (with no figures) cost $6,448.75 to edit, produce, and post.
Proceedings of the Third USGS Modeling Conference: Understanding and Predicting for a Changing World, June 7-11, 2010 (SIR 2011-5147): This job is still in production; probably similar in page length to the second proceedings volume. $8,318.75 has been billed up to this point. The final cost will probably come in around $10,000 or a little under (not including the cost of printing). I don't know how many figures there are.
So how much would it cost to produce a 75-page book (with an undetermined number of figures)? It appears from the numbers given above that the fewer number of figures, the lower the cost. A best guess for your book might be between $10,000 and $15,000 depending on the number and quality of the figures, with a big emphasis on the quality of the figures given to us.
Please bear in mind that this is a very rough estimate and was given without seeing any of the materials. We only bill for the hours we work at the rate of $55 per hour.
I think at this point, that’s the best I can do. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Kate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katharine S. Schindler
USGS--Office of Communications
Science Publishing Network
903 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: (703) 648-4338; Fax: (703) 648-6138
kschindl@usgs.gov
External Web site: www.usgs.gov
From: "David L. Govoni" <dgovoni@usgs.gov>
To: kschindl@usgs.gov
Date: 09/22/2011 04:27 PM
Subject: Example Workshop Reports per Our Conversation
Katherine --
Here are some citations, including a couple of new ones. The SIRs offer the best examples of potential content.
The more I think about it, the more I suspect we'll go for the OFR series, but cost estimates for both remains a good idea. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5232/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5199/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5201/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1218/
Thanks for you help!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
David L. Govoni
dgovoni@usgs.gov
"I love deadlines. I especially love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." -- Douglas Adams
Hines, Megan K.
In addition to the attachment on this page (DFCconfRooms.xls), here are some notes from Scott McEwen
Hi Megan,
There's no cost to using the DFC Bldg 810 Auditorium. To reserve, call Amanda at 303-236-1969; she's with GSA, who now oversees the room. After making the reservation, the other services have to be obtained individually; e.g., for use of the audio system, contact Ben Kelley; for Internet access, contact Buster Keaton. Plan to bring help to setup tables and chairs. Holler if you have trouble locating these guys in the USGS address book.
There are also other rooms available in other DFC buildings. I should update my spreadsheet and send to you.
The USGS National Training Center rooms in Bldg 53 *do* come with a cost, but also come with a great service staff. Contact Alan Ward for info.
I'd be glad to help you with more info, as well as set up.