Newsletter #12: July 12, 2012

Summer is a great season to volunteer as a citizen scientist. There are all sorts of projects that get you outside and exploring our planet. SciStarter Contributor Lily Bui has collected Ten Awesome Summer Citizen Science Projects in a recent blog post to spread the word about ways to contribute to science this summer. Three of these projects are highlighted below for Your Science Missions. These projects, and dozens more, can be found in the SciStarter Project Finder.

SciStarter founder Darlene Cavelier is looking forward to perusing the entries as a judge for the ArduSat contest presented by Discover Magazine and Astronomy Magazine. SciStarter is a partner of the contest too. ArduSat will let the public design and run their own space-based experiments. Do you have an experiment that you'd like to try? If so, submit your entry by July 14 to ArduSat.

Calling all researchers and science team leaders! Are you looking for citizen science volunteers to help with research? SciStarter brings projects and people together. If you’d like your project featured, submit it to the SciStarter Project Finder for consideration by the editors.

Would you like to contribute to the SciStarter blog? If so, email Dr. John Ohab, Director of Community Engagement: john@scistarter.com.

Keep experimenting!

- The SciStarter Team

National Moth Week

Save the date! National Moth Week is July 23-29.

Like moths to a flame? Did you know the US is home to over 11,000 moth species? Head outside during National Moth Week July 23-29, 2012 and find a few. Join existing teams or organize a count in your area! Photograph or record moths spotted in parks, environmental education centers, or fluttering around your porch light.



Digital Fishers

√   Animals

Look underwater without getting wet.

Here’s a citizen science project that puts you in touch with the ocean but saves you the extra costs in suntan lotion. The Digital Fishers Project allows you to help scientists identify different species of fish. You can assist with research by watching 15-second videos from the comfort of your own computer and click on simple responses.



SciSpy

Spy on nature with your smartphone.

Spy on nature and contribute to science with SciSpy. Created by the Science Channel (via Discovery), SciSpy enlists participants to document the natural world in their backyards, parks, cities, and towns. The information you submit can provide helpful information to track migrations, changes in the natural environment, seasonal trends, and more!