Category Archives: Citizen Science

Stories about Citizen Science

Citizen ScienceECOGIGGoMRI SciencePeopleResearch StoriesTeachers and Students Teachers Participate in ECOGIG Research Expedition 4896

Two Georgia middle school teachers recently joined a consortium research cruise through the AMP-IT-UP (Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping Integrated to Unlock Potential) program, a multi-year grant focused on cultivating the next generation of STEM innovators. The research was relevant not only for the teachers but also for their students, who have been studying AMP-IT-UP curriculum modules Read More

Citizen ScienceGoMRI ScienceRECOVERResearch Stories RECOVER Enlists Professional Anglers for Mahi Tagging Experiment RECOVER

This RECOVER Consortium experiment uses satellite tags attached to adult mahi to help determine if consortium experiments could be replicated in the wild. Experienced anglers can help increase the amount of fish researchers catch in a day and reduce stressful fight times on the line to ensure that the tagged fish are as healthy as Read More

CARTHECitizen SciencePeopleResearch Stories CARTHE Prepares for Year Two of Bay Drift Project CARTHE Consortium spent the day celebrating one successful year of the citizen science project #baydrift at Vizcaya museum and Gardens in Miami.

The Bay Drift Project is a citizen-science experiment that uses drift cards to help determine the origins of the trash that washes up on the Vizcaya Museum and Garden’s shoreline. CARTHE Consortium representatives and Vizcaya hosted an event to highlight results from the project’s first year and to prepare drift cards and identify goals for Read More

Citizen ScienceCONCORDEGoMRI ScienceGoMRI ScientistsPeopleResearch Stories CONCORDE Hosts Third Fisherman-Scientist Bridge Building Workshop 4465

Approximately 15 local fishermen and their families attended the workshop to meet the scientists and voice their concern about topics such as sediment and marine snow. The fishermen also learned how to use the YSI ProDSSII conductivity/temperature-depth meter (CTD) to collect depth salinity and temperature profiles. They will continue collecting and returning data through the Read More

Citizen ScienceECOGIGGoMRI ScientistsPeopleTeachers and Students Science at the Stadium Scores Big with Game-Day Attendees Graduate student Fanny Girard (left) joins game-day fans at the ECOGIG-II Ocean Discovery Zone. The coral banner makes a beautiful photo backdrop! (Photo by ECOGIG-II)

Scientists and education staff have tapped into a novel venue – football games – to reach new audiences and share ongoing research and ocean technology. The research consortium Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf II (ECOGIG II), funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), took their mobile Ocean Discovery Read More

CARTHECitizen ScienceDROPPSPeopleTeachers and Students CARTHE and DROPPS Scientists Team Up for UT Summer Science Program 3163

The Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies (DROPPS) Consortium had another successful collaboration with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) for the UT Summer Science program! We taught 3rd-4th graders about how oil spill scientists sometimes use drift cards to study oil spills to see where Read More

Citizen ScienceECOGIGPeople Researchers Inspire Future Oceanographers! 2621

The Spring Boy Scouts Advance-A-Rama (AAR) program has been conducted for over 25 years by volunteers from the Northeast Georgia Council’s Cherokee District. The AAR is hosted by the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. In recent years, over 200 scouts from troops in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Read More

Citizen SciencePeopleSea Grant Sharing Oil Spill Science with Non-Scientists: Effectively Communicating Complex Research Results Through Outreach and Education Programs Outreach_Workshop_GOMOSES_300

The four Sea Grant Programs in the Gulf of Mexico region, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership jointly co-hosted an outreach workshop at the 2016 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference on February 1 in Tampa, FL, called Sharing Oil Spill Science with Non-Scientists: Effectively Communicating Read More

Citizen ScienceCONCORDEGoMRI ScientistsPeople CONCORDE Begins Fisher Outreach Program During Fall Campaign Heather Dippold (left- CONCORDE Education & Outreach) meets with Peter Nguyen ( right close- Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center) and Captain Nguyen (far right) to discuss data collection and the community meeting. Photo credit: Jessica Kastler

While Consortium for oil spill exposure pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems (CONCORDE) researchers sampled the northern Gulf to determine the paths and impacts of river outflow, a pair of citizen scientists, also commercial fishers, assisted from their own vessels. Hoang Nguyen Van of D’Iberville, Mississippi, and George Barisich of Ycloskey, Louisiana—Captain Nguyen and Captain George—took Read More

ACERCitizen SciencePeopleTeachers and Students ACER Engages Local Teachers to Reach K-12 Students 2371

The Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER) Teacher Advisory Group is a team of local science teachers who will work with the consortium’s Educational Team to increase students’ interest in and understanding of the northern Gulf of Mexico. More Information: http://acer.disl.org/news/2016/02/02/working-with-the-experts/ The goals of ACER’s Education Team include communicating the importance of the northern Gulf of Mexico and Read More

CARTHECitizen ScienceGISRPeopleTeachers and Students Young Scientist Visualizes Risk to Whales in an Oil Spill Scenario Alek with map of his research area

Alek stands next to a map of his research area, holding the drift cards he used in his oil spill study in front of a nautical chart of the Salish Sea. (Provided by Alek) Fueled by a passion for science and endangered species, Alek designed and executed a research project that involved scientists from eight Read More

Citizen ScienceDeep-CPeopleTeachers and Students Scientists Put ROV Technology in Hands of Teachers and Students 3355a

As science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills become increasingly important to the 21st century workforce, what better way to foster those skills in middle and high school students than an old-fashioned friendly competition? Over the past four years, the Deep Sea to Coast Connectivity in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (Deep-C) consortium and the Read More

Audio-VideoCARTHECitizen SciencePeopleShort Clips (<15 Minutes)Teachers and Students Bob The Drifter Inspires Singapore Classroom to Conduct Oil Spill Research Experiment Students first created their drifter design on an iPad before constructing it in real life. (Provided by: Jenny Harter)

A fourth grade class at Singapore American School found Bob the Drifter and the CARTHE science group while researching ocean science and pollution online. CARTHE’s drifter experiments, GLAD and SCOPE, are helping scientists understand how ocean surface currents move pollutants such as oil. CARTHE’s visually-engaging experiments and their animated, data-gathering mascot “Bob” motivated these young students Read More

CARTHECitizen ScienceGoMRI ScientistsPeopleTeachers and Students A Match Made in Florida: Citizens and Scientists Team Up for Research and Education 2138a

What do the Consortium for Advanced Research on Marine Mammal Health Assessment (CARTHE), the International SeaKeepers Society, and Fleet Miami have in common? Ocean research! Last September, CARTHE researchers from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School partnered with SeaKeepers and Fleet Miami to widen the reach of ocean and oil spill research in the local Read More

CARTHECitizen SciencePeopleTeachers and Students NBA Player Makes Science the Star for Miami Youth CARTHE_NBAJones_2305a

NBA Champion James Jones took the stage for young fans this July, but not to talk about sports. Instead, his goal was to get kids excited about cutting-edge science happening in their home town. Over 40 kids participated in his week-long Crew 22 Training Camp hosted by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine Read More

Audio-VideoCARTHECitizen SciencePeopleShort Clips (<15 Minutes)Teachers and Students Video: Gary Finch Outdoors CARTHE Drifters Field Trip Gary Finch Outdoors CARTHE Drifters Field Trip

Scientists from the University of Miami have been visiting our area for the last three weeks studying the movements of ocean currents along the coast in order to observe how they carry oil, fish larvae or toxins in the water. On this particular day, 7th grade science students from Episcopal Day School in Pensacola were Read More

CARTHECitizen SciencePeopleTeachers and Students Student Drifter Competition for Coastal Oil Experiment Has Cascading Wins 2444a

It was a tall order, but high school students rose to the challenge: they integrated physics, engineering, and scientific curiosity and created functional data-gathering drifters. They also became part of a scientific effort to improve predictions of how oil moves through coastal waters and onto shores. In December at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, scientists deployed Read More

Citizen ScienceDeep-CPeopleTeachers and Students Oil Patty Research with Top Scientists Turns Students into Citizen Science Enthusiasts 2114a

Talk about compounding interest! Put together scientists and teachers who are passionate about their work with students who are eager to help with ongoing research and watch as excitement fuels student engagement, sparks career interest, and feeds enthusiasm of all. And as a side bonus, research is conducted more efficiently in both time and cost. Read More

Citizen ScienceCWCGoMRI ScientistsPeople Louisiana Scientists Present Marsh Research in Public Workshop Series CWC_PubEdWorkshopIMG_2243a

An old philosophical question asks, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Similarly, if a scientist makes an important discovery and people do not hear about it, will it matter?  Scientists are conducting research about oil and other impacts on coastal marine Read More

C-MEDSCitizen ScienceGoMRI ScientistsPeople Tulane Scientists Hold Oil Spill Q&A Event with Vietnamese Fishing Community C-MEDSVietnameseFishing_2256a

Many people outside of the Gulf Coast region are not aware of the large population of Vietnamese residents who live across this area, in concentrated communities from Texas to Alabama. Arriving as refugees during and after the Vietnam War, they settled along the Gulf Coast to work in the booming commercial fishing industry.  Today, the Read More

Citizen ScienceCWCGoMRI ScientistsPeople CWC Involves All in the Family in Oil Spill Marsh Science CWC-FamilyMarshScience_2263a

“My mom would love this boat ride.” “I wish my child could walk the marshes.” Murt Conover, Senior Marine Educator and Aquarist with the Coastal Waters Consortium (CWC), often hears comments like these when leading teacher and student groups at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) facility. She thought it seemed like a “no brainer” Read More

Citizen ScienceGISRPeople Boaters, Vacationers, and Beach Lovers Report Drift Cards for Oil-Spill Research 2130a

Summer fun check list: 1. enjoy the sun, sand, and surf along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico; 2. track ocean currents; and 3. win a prize. Track ocean currents? Win a prize? Yes! Adults and children from Florida to Texas are calling, emailing, and going online to report little yellow cards they find in the Read More

CARTHECitizen ScienceDeep-CGoMRI ScientistsPeople CARTHE and DEEP-C Inspire Future Scientists Left: 12-year old Kevin Telfer from Boston, MA, with the prototype drifter buoy he and a fellow science partner Harrison Reiter built and field tested for their science fair project titled, “Deployment of a Drifter Buoy in the Sudbury River: Prototype Design and Results.” (Photo by Brian Telfer) Right: High school sophomore Elizabeth Smithwick from Jacksonville, FL, collects soil samples along the St. Johns River for her science fair project titled, “The Isolation, Examination, and Comparison of Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria in the St. Johns River.” (Photo provided by Elizabeth Smithwick)

Scientists conducting GoMRI-funded oil spill research take their mission regarding society seriously: They employ cutting-edge technology to collect and analyze data using rigorous scientific parameters and publish their findings. But there are other ways these researchers define success, like working with students. When young students seek answers to scientific questions and contact them, these scientists Read More

Citizen ScienceGISRGoMRI SciencePeopleResearch Stories Scientists Seek Public Help in Oil Spill Research 2122a

You may already be a winner! That is what folks will read on posters across the Gulf region if they find and report bright yellow cards drifting in Gulf waters or washed up on beaches.  This small biodegradable card is part of a larger research effort to better understand Gulf currents and improve future oil Read More