Environmental Education Week April 23-29: Citizen Science Provides Opportunities to Connect Kids to the World Around Them

Citizen science provides an opportunity for the public (students included) to volunteer their time to assist scientists in their research.  Citizen scientists can support professional researchers by submitting data, sharing experiences, or spreading valuable information. Citizen science offers the interdisciplinary nature of scientific research by incorporating math, technology, and engineering to pressing environmental issues. Citizen […]Read more The post Environmental Education Week April 23-29: Citizen Science Provides Opportunities to Connect Kids to the World Around Them appeared first on Tennessee STEM Innovation Network.

Citizen science provides an opportunity for the public (students included) to volunteer their time to assist scientists in their research.  Citizen scientists can support professional researchers by submitting data, sharing experiences, or spreading valuable information. Citizen science offers the interdisciplinary nature of scientific research by incorporating math, technology, and engineering to pressing environmental issues.

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, citizen scientists of all ages helped replant poached ginseng, monitored the starting time of leaf-out and other phenologies, and collected dragonflies for a study of mercury in park animals, among other projects. Visit their site here to learn more about upcoming opportunities.

Middle Tennessee State University has a Medicinal Plant Studies program designed for teachers in grades 9-12.  This program has a collection of experiments, lectures, supplemental materials, and guides for teachers wishing to add content to their classroom while teaching science, conservation, innovation, and medicinal plants.  Check out the MTSU full list of project opportunities here.

The post Environmental Education Week April 23-29: Citizen Science Provides Opportunities to Connect Kids to the World Around Them appeared first on Tennessee STEM Innovation Network.