Citizen Science Sparks Independent Scientific Investigations

Abstract

Citizen Science programs across the country invite the public to participate in scientific research. Through these experiences, participants learn scientific data collection protocols and have opportunities to observe nature, which naturally leads to asking questions about the natural world. A new project in Minnesota is training leaders of youth groups to use citizen science experiences to stimulate curiosity and inspire motivation to design and carry out scientific research projects. The poster will describe the experimental program model and methods used to foster authentic inquiry in youth age 10-14 outside the traditional school setting, such as 4-H clubs, scout groups, or community youth programs. Formative evaluation results show that the program model leads to changes in skills, attitudes and behaviors of both youth and adult participants.