I-Corps L: Leveraging Citizen Science Pathways To Connect Millions Of People With Citizen Science Tools

通过美国国家科学基金会创新团队学习计划(i-Corps L)，该项目将开发方法，通过正式和非正式的研究项目，将数以百万计的公民科学家与需要他们帮助的科学家联系起来，使SciStarter计划能够扩大公民科学的前景。公民科学是一个快速发展的领域，它通过数据收集项目和使用传感器、微型光谱仪、水测试工具包和其他工具进行环境监测，让公众参与科学调查。公民科学界面临的一个挑战是获得收集公民科学项目所需类型数据所需的工具。SciStarter通过减少志愿者为每个项目识别、获取和使用正确的科学工具和仪器的障碍，促进了对公民科学的更广泛参与。这个i-Corps for Learning项目将开发方法，使SciStarter能够为更多的公民科学家提供更容易地获得有意义地参与公民科学项目所需的和推荐的工具。SciStarter旨在为公民科学家的需求提供全面的解决方案，包括项目、支持以及培训材料和咨询等产品。SciStarter可以成为公民科学的催化剂，将人们与参与的机会联系起来，降低公众参与科学研究的门槛，同时创建一种混合的学术-消费者可持续发展模式。目前这一努力的一个中心重点将是建立一种可持续和可扩展的手段，使公民科学家能够以高效和具有成本效益的方式获得设备和仪器。该项目将利用已有的要素，扩大公民科学家参与新的或多个项目，增强公民在公民科学进程中的能力，并为领导公民科学研究项目的科学家提供有用、可扩展和可持续的解决方案。SciStarter的扩展将为更多地将以前被边缘化的群体纳入公民科学活动奠定基础，并将扩展到所有形式的公众参与科学。

Through the NSF Innovation Corps for Learning Program, (I-Corps L), this project will develop ways to enable the SciStarter program to extend the promise of citizen science by connecting millions of citizen scientists with scientists in need of their help through formal and informal research projects. Citizen science is a fast growing field that engages the public in scientific inquiry through data collection projects and environmental monitoring using sensors, mini spectrometers, water testing kits and other tools. A challenge for the citizen science community has been access to the tools required to collect the types of data needed in citizen science projects. SciStarter facilitates broader participation in citizen science by reducing the barrier for volunteers to identify, acquire, and use the right scientific tools and instruments for each project. This I-Corps for Learning project will develop approaches to enable SciStarter to provide a larger number of citizen scientists with easier access to required and recommended instruments needed for meaningful participation in citizen science projects.SciStarter aims to provide a holistic solution to the needs of citizen scientists that includes projects, support, and products such as training materials and consulting. SciStarter can be a catalyst in citizen science by connecting people to opportunities to engage and in lowering barriers to public participation in scientific research while creating a hybrid academic-consumer sustainability model. A central focus of this current effort will be establishing a sustainable and scalable means of enabling citizen scientists to obtain equipment and instruments in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The project will make use of elements already in place to expand the engagement of citizen scientists in new or multiple projects, to empower citizens in the process of citizen science, and to provide a useful, scalable and sustainable solution for scientists leading citizen science research projects. The extension of SciStarter will set the stage for greater inclusion of previously marginalized groups in citizen science activities and will extend to all forms of public engagement in science.