Citizen Science Project
The Citizen Scientist Project, made possible by a $4.8 million grant from the US Department of Education, builds the capacity of teachers and students to apply their Computer Science- (C-) STEAM competencies to identify and address issues of community concern in collaboration with local scientists and community agencies. This work seeks to democratize science by including more diverse voices in question-posing, data collection, data analysis, and data-informed advocacy. Inspired by the ECCLPS call to action, funding was dedicated to the development of interdisciplinary climate change and environmental literacy experiences for teacher education programs throughout California. Most recently, the project launched five initiatives that will generate public-facing, open-source resources for school districts and educator preparation programs:
1. Using the Climate Hazard Resilience Forum model, The Citizen Scientist Project is creating forums regarding California's local climate change and environmental literacy strengths and areas of growth. In partnership with My NASA Data, the first forum will focus on Air Quality and use the San Joaquin Valley as a site of inquiry. This curriculum is set to be released during Spring 2023.
2. With funding from the National Geographic Society, The Citizen Scientist Project engaged high school students in a year-long co-curricular experience. The initiative positioned high school students as storytellers related to environmental justice issues in the San Joaquin Valley. You can learn more about the project and read/listen/watch their stories here.
3. In partnership with the National Geographic Society, The Citizen Scientist Project has developed a series of Global Citizen Science infographics, which are now accessible in the National Geographic Society Resource Library. These infographics address: 1) What is Global Citizen Science?; 2) Data Tells a Story; 3) The Wisdom of Crowds; 4) BioBlitz!; 5) Teaching Machines Together; 6) Partners in Discovery; 7) A Glimpse into the Wild; 8) Global Citizen Taking Local Action. These infographics have also been translated into Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
4. The Citizen Scientist Project has also partnered with the National Geographic Society to create Global Citizen Science learning modules. These learning modules are set to be released during Spring 2023.
5. We are inviting students and educators to participate in National Geographic's new initiative, The Slingshot Challenge. You can learn more about it here. For this initiative, students will work individually or in teams of up to six to create a one-minute video that shares a solution to an environmental issue in their community. The National Geographic Society will select winners who will be awarded cash prizes up to $10,000.00 and personally invited to their headquarters in Washington, D.C., for their iconic Explorers Festival. We have been given special funding to support a California cohort of students and educators. With our support, participating educators and students will receive enhanced mentoring, funding to test their solution idea through small-scale experimentation, and an invitation to present at our Student Storytelling Festival during Spring 2023.
The project has been working with the NGS to develop citizen science learning modules and infographics to build capacity for citizens in K-12 and teacher education. Questions can be directed to Brittney Beck (bbeck4@csub.edu).