0:00

Question

citizen science is a an effort to
0:02
basically get the public engaged in
0:05
doing science into helping generate new
0:07
research questions and to apply the
0:09
knowledge that comes out of science to
0:11
solve real problems so citizen science
0:14
is everything from helping scientists
0:17
understand the migratory patterns of
0:19
birds and how those are changing due to
0:20
climate change to understanding here in
0:23
this area of the world understanding how
0:25
climate change is impacting the
0:27
different kinds of plants that grow in
0:29
our watersheds um and the impact that
0:32
those plant communities are having on on
0:34
clean water um citizen science is
0:37
basically the process in which people
0:39
from all walks of life work alongside
0:42
scientists and researchers to answer a
0:44
question about the world so how it works
0:47
on the ground is you might have um
0:49
members of the public actually helping
0:51
collect data for researchers to answer a
0:53
question you might have uh citizens or
0:57
um members of the public actually
0:59
helping analyze data sets or you might
1:01
have um the public helping to
1:03
disseminate research findings but what's
1:06
key about citizen science and technology
1:07
is that technology is allowing us to
1:10
really democratize who can be involved
1:13
so it's not just people who can happen
1:15
to get themselves over to their local
1:18
Museum where there's a citizen science
1:19
project in fact technology is letting us
1:22
involve people from around the region
1:24
around the state from around the world
1:26
in research questions and research
1:28
projects um from afar so you if you have
1:32
a um smartphone um or a mobile device of
1:36
pretty much any kind there are so many
1:38
citizen science um applications online
1:41
that you can actually do in your
1:43
neighborhood so you can be in Pittsburg
1:46
tracking bird migrations at the same
1:48
time somebody in the Philippines is and
1:51
all that data can actually go into a
1:53
massive you know data set that's
1:54
informing our understanding of climate
1:56
change and impact on migration or you
1:59
can can be a scientist who lives in New
2:02
Zealand and you can answer a question by
2:05
a fifth grader who lives in San
2:07
Francisco about this certain nud Brank
2:09
species that they found in a tidle pool
2:11
here um on our Coast so it's basically
2:15
allowing everyone anywhere anytime to
2:18
participate in the scientific process
2:21
citizen scientists can get involved in
2:22
many ways using digital technology they
2:24
can actually um record data and record
2:27
instances or occurrences or sightings of
2:30
of different kinds of species whether
2:31
those are plants or animals in their
2:33
backyard or when they're hiking or when
2:35
they're on a road trip and that can go
2:37
into um big databases of information
2:40
about where we find different species um
2:43
they can also participate in uh
2:45
analyzing data sets so there's there's
2:48
projects like Galaxy Zoo um in which uh
2:51
people can go online and and help
2:53
astronomers actually categorize Galaxy
2:56
shapes um there are ways for people to
2:59
assist each other other using digital
3:00
media to answer questions that citizen
3:02
science have scientists have so um
3:05
identification of new species or plants
3:07
or animals um or ecosystems if you're an
3:10
expert in a certain area you can
3:11
actually go online and help answer
3:14
questions and serve as an expert curator
3:16
of data or information and then finally
3:18
you can also help share um and
3:21
disseminate the the outcomes and the
3:24
findings of research that is done
3:26
collaboratively between the public and
3:28
researchers so you can um using social
3:30
media helps spread the you know spread
3:33
the word about something new that was
3:34
discovered um or bring that to the
3:36
attention of a local Land Management
3:38
agency that might not have been aware
3:40
that there's been this research that's
3:42
relevant to their land management
3:43
practices there's lots of ways to use
3:45
technology to get involved in citizen
3:48
science

As you watch the videos keep notes on examples of how they complete each step of the data analysis process.

Collect or Choose Data
Clean and/or Filter Data
Visualize and Find Patterns
New Information

Answer 1

Sure! Here’s a breakdown of how citizen scientists can complete each step of the data analysis process based on the information provided in the video:

1. Collect or Choose Data

• Example: Members of the public can actively help collect data about various species (plants or animals) by recording their sightings in their backyards, during hikes, or while on road trips.
• Example: Specific citizen science projects allow participants to track bird migrations or monitor changes in plant communities due to climate change.

2. Clean and/or Filter Data

• Example: Individuals participating in platforms like Galaxy Zoo help astronomers categorize galaxy shapes, which may involve cleaning and organizing vast amounts of astronomical data to ensure accurate categorization.
• Example: Citizen scientists might help in filtering data sets by removing duplicates or irrelevant data points, ensuring that only meaningful contributions are used in analysis.

3. Visualize and Find Patterns

• Example: As citizen scientists contribute data (e.g., sightings of species), researchers can visualize the geographical distribution or migration patterns based on the compiled data, making it easier to identify trends.
• Example: Data collected can be aggregated into large databases, which can then be analyzed for patterns over time, such as shifts in species distribution correlating with climate change.

4. New Information

• Example: Findings from citizen science initiatives can lead to new insights about ecological impacts, such as changes in plant communities affecting clean water.
• Example: Collaborations between citizen scientists and researchers can result in new discoveries, such as identifying new species or understanding ecological responses to environmental changes.

By leveraging technology and public participation, citizen science enhances the data analysis process, allowing for more comprehensive research outcomes.

Answer 2

Rephrase the sentences in 8th grade sentences

Answer 3

Sure! Here’s a rephrasing of each step of the data analysis process in simpler sentences suitable for an 8th-grade audience:

1. Collect or Choose Data

• Example: People can help scientists gather information by keeping track of different plants and animals they see in their backyards, while hiking, or on road trips.
• Example: In some citizen science projects, people can watch bird migrations or see how plants are changing because of climate change.

2. Clean and/or Filter Data

• Example: In projects like Galaxy Zoo, people help astronomers sort and organize data about galaxies, making sure everything is accurate and neat.
• Example: Citizen scientists can also help by going through the data to remove repeated or unimportant information so that only the valuable data is used.

3. Visualize and Find Patterns

• Example: When citizen scientists add their observations, researchers can create maps or charts to show where animals or plants are located, helping them understand trends.
• Example: The information collected can be combined into big databases so scientists can look for patterns over time, like how animals are moving because of climate change.

4. New Information

• Example: The results from these citizen science projects can provide new ideas about how the environment is affected, like how different plant groups can influence clean water.
• Example: By working together, citizen scientists and researchers can make new discoveries, such as finding new species or learning more about how nature reacts to changes.

These simpler sentences keep the main ideas but are easier to understand for an 8th-grade audience.