Quiz Results

After you’ve taken the quiz to find out which citizen science project is best for you, see below for more information about the five possible results.

Animal Monitoring

Everyone has the ability to participate in animal monitoring projects from anywhere in the world! You can even participate from your own backyard or by using your smartphone. Check out projects such as those offered by the iNaturalist Network, Encyclopedia of Life, iSpot, and eBird to get involved. You are also a great candidate for The Great Backyard Bird Count, Spring Alive, and Global Big Day.

If you prefer working in a group and have a strong interest in birds, you can become involved with your local BirdLife International partner or National Audubon Society chapter to learn from birding experts.

Or if you love frogs and toads, check out FrogWatch USA or FrogWatch Canada to work alongside other amphibian-lovers.

You can also join butterfly experts on one of the North American Butterfly Association’s Butterfly Counts which take place yearly throughout North America.

Web-based Projects

There is a whole world of projects available to anyone with a computer and Internet connection, anywhere in the world! Check out websites such as Zooniverse and Identify Animals to get involved. You can view the secret lives of animals in far off places via camera trap photos, decipher bat calls, and much more!

If you have a love for history or a knack at deciphering hand writing, take a look at projects offered by DigiVol and the Smithsonian Digital Volunteers: Transcription Center.

Volunteering Locally or Abroad

Explore some wild places and meet new people by assisting on local and international citizen science projects!

Do a little online research into local parks, preserves, and conservation organizations to find discover projects available near you. The US National Park Service, Parks Canada, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation offer citizen science projects as well.

If you love to travel, you can even use your vacation time to participate in a citizen science project! To view some of the opportunities available, check out EarthWatch Expeditions and Biosphere Expeditions.

Water and Air Quality

Monitoring the quality of local waterways and the air we breathe are important components of environmental protection. Water and air quality affect all living things in an environment, including humans, plants, and animals. Check out projects such as the EarthEcho Water Challenge, FreshWater Watch, and Air Sensor to learn how can collect data on water or air quality in your own community.

If you are a diver or ocean lover, you are an ideal participant for CoralWatch, Dive Against Debris, and projects offered by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation.

Plant Monitoring

Known as phenology, the life cycles of plants and animals are not as predictable as they may seem. The timing of events such as flowering, fruiting, and migration are valuable data when collected year after year all over the world. Check out projects such as Nature’s Notebook and Project BudBurst in the USA, PlantWatch in Canada, Nature’s Calendar in the UK, and the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network’s Phenology Recording System to get involved in a phenology project.

Or, participate in the identification and monitoring of native and invasive plants by checking out the iNaturalist Network, iSpot, and Encyclopedia of Life. Getting started is easy, and you can even participate from your own backyard or by using your smartphone.

Feel free to comment below with your result. Does it seem like a good fit for you? Which project(s) are you interested in trying?