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August 21, 2007

Conference Session Announcement: Citizen Science in the Geosciences

This announcement was sent by Sandra Henderson of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. AGU is the American Geophysical Union; the meeting is in San Francisco on December 10-14.

Hello Colleagues,

I'd like to take this opportunity to inform you of a special session at the AGU Fall Meeting on Citizen Science in the Geosciences. Please visit http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/?content=search&show=detail&sessid=348 for more details.

The deadline for abstract submittal is September 6, 2007.

Session Title: Citizen Science in the Geosciences: Engaging the Public in Research

Session Description:

This session will focus on best practices and lessons learned from successful citizen science and public engagement events that promote greater understanding of geoscience content and protocols.

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of programs and projects designed to connect researchers with interested members of the public who collect data following defined research protocols. Although not new, citizen science efforts are rapidly evolving. The Internet has made participation in citizen science efforts accessible to a wide-spread audience of interested lay persons. As a result, tens of thousands of citizen scientists have contributed to a variety of research projects in the geosciences in recent years.

As citizen science efforts expand and evolve, we need to learn more about how to design, implement, and evaluate such programs on the local, regional, national, and international level. We need a better understanding of how to successfully address the challenges of language and culture in citizen science events that are international in scope. Submissions that address citizen science planning, marketing, recruiting, web site design, data entry, data quality control, coordination and management, communication between participants and researchers, project evaluation, and final reporting back to participants are encouraged. Papers are encouraged that represent the diversity of participants found in citizen science efforts including K-12 school groups, informal science centers, communities, universities, and laboratories. More than simply reporting about individual citizen science projects and programs, this session will highlight research-based lessons learned including successful strategies associated with the development of scientifically valid protocols used by citizen scientists locally, regionally, and internationally.

Conveners:

Sandra Henderson
UCAR Office of Education and Outreach
PO Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307
303 497 8108 voice
303 497 2598 fax

Roberta Johnson
UCAR Office of Education and Outreach
PO Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307
303 497 2591 voice
303 497 2598 fax

It would be really interesting to hear about more projects in the geosciences space!

Posted by terrie at August 21, 2007 05:48 AM

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