Citizen-Centered Innovation Community

Citizen Science, USGS Research, and the Citizen Science Working Group

 'Citizen science' refers to scientific observation, measurement, research, and related activities conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or nonprofessional scientists and other citizen volunteers (modified from Wikipedia, 04-15-2013).  

Citizen science complements and enhances more conventional scientific methods and studies. The role of citizen science in the realm of the natural sciences is particularly valuable. Governments and other institutions often do not have the resources to generate the baseline and on-going observation and monitoring data required to address complex environmental issues because ecological monitoring is expensive, labor intensive, and time consuming. (Modified from Lee, T., et al. 2006.)

The purpose of CDI Citizen Science Working Group (CSWG) is to:

• promote an understanding of the role and potential benefits of Citizen Science and Scientists in the conduct of USGS research;
• facilitate and enhance connections between the USGS and the larger federal and public Citizen Science communities;
• provide access to information and tools to support the proper, effective, and creative use of Citizen Science data within the USGS;
• engage the public in USGS and partner science; and
• foster and improve the public's scientific literacy.

Become a Member

Citizen Science Working Group Calendar

Current Projects

Previous Projects

CSWG FY2013 Project

CSWG FY2012 Project

• USGS Citizen Science Workshop, Denver, CO, September 11-12, 2012- Visit the Workshop Agenda web site to access available presentation files, notes and recordings from this event!
  • Review a Brown Bag presentation about the Workshop given to Reston, VA attendees in September, 2012.
  • Open-File Report: Hines, Megan, Benson, Abigail, Govoni, David, Masaki, Derek, Poore, Barbara, Simpson, Annie, and Tessler, Steven, 2013, Partnering for Science; Proceedings of the USGS Workshop on Citizen Science: U.S. Geological Survey Open-­File Report 2013–1234, 51 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1234/.

Resources

USGS

• Citizen Science & Crowdsourcing at USGS (Dave Govoni)
• USGS Citizen Science Projects(USGS funded or officially sanctioned)
  • USGS Citizen Science Project Inventory -- data entry form
• USGS Employee Projects and Activities (Non-work related)
• Citizen Science-related Reports & Presentations
• Citizen Science Contact List (Available to DOI only at this time)
• Citizen Science Group Knowledgebase on Mendeley (Barbara Poore)
• Policies, Processes and Contacts for Compliance

Partners and Others

• Selected References & Other Resources
  • Toolkits to Kick off Your Project
  • Citizen Science Related Workshop Proceedings
  • Assessments of Citizen Science Activities
• Social Media Links

Listservs

• FCPCCS@listserv.gsa.gov, the FCPCCS listserv (federal agency staff only).

• CitSci-discussion-L@cornell.edu, the discussion-based public listserv for the community supporting citizen science, volunteer monitoring, and other forms of public participation in scientific research.

Related Community and Activities Sites

Federal

• Federal Community of Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science (FCPCCS)

• EPA Community of Practice | Region 2 | Headquarters
• NASA Solve
  • Provides list of current opportunities for the public to contribute to solving tough problems related to NASA's mission through challenges, prize competitions, crowdsourcing and citizen science.
• NIH Community of Practice
• NOAA Community of Practice

Non-Federal

• Citizen Science Association