News : Science for All

Program participant holding a tagged monarch butterfly at Hannen Lake Park

By Faith Hunt, Naturalist

A community scientist is someone who contributes to scientific research. Community scientists are people who have a little bit of time and interest in contributing to local and national data about the world around them! You don't need advanced degrees or years of experience, just a passion for science, a willingness to help with research, and an eagerness to volunteer your time. We participate in a few community science projects every year - Monarch Watch (catching and tagging migrating monarchs), Monarch Health (testing monarchs for parasites) and Iowa DNR Frog and Toad surveys (gathering data on amphibian populations). Not only are these activities enjoyable and informative, but by continually collecting data from similar locations year after year, we can start comparing and finding trends in our area that can help contribute to the bigger picture.

Due to limited resources and staff to gather data, community scientists play an important role in helping better understand our world. They help collect and monitor data on various topics such as water quality, frogs and toads, weather, insects, plants, and so much more by allowing scientists to work with more diverse information for their studies. Researchers can't be everywhere all the time and don't know your community as well as you!

To become a community scientist, start by deciding what interests you most, then find a project that matches! A quick online search will reveal numerous opportunities. Scientists are looking for help on a wide range of topics, from monitoring birds, bees and trees! Find one that best suits your interest and run with it! Once you find a project that piques your interest, check the guidelines to see how to get started. Some may require registration or specific training, while others let you jump right into collecting and submitting data. Make sure you pick a project that is achievable for you - both for time and abilities. You may be surprised at all the new things you will learn! While performing your community science research, always double-check your data to ensure it's correct, as false information won't be helpful. Accuracy is key!

Most importantly, enjoy the experience! You'll not only help with valuable research but also learn along the way. There are so many exciting community science projects to be a part of. In Iowa you can volunteer with the Iowa DNR to participate in frog and toad surveys, monitor bird nests, or help with bat acoustic surveys and more.

To learn more and get involved, visit https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Iowas-Wildlife/Volunteer-WildlifeMonitoring.

If you are interested in insects, check out Xerces Society and their programs: https://www.xerces.org/community-science.

There are endless community science opportunities and there is a project out there for everyone!

Find us online at www.bentoncountyia.gov/conservation/ or 

www.mycountyparks.com

Find us on Facebook: @bentoncountyparks

To donate visit https://www.bentoncountyia.gov/conservation/donate/