citizen science 2025-09-11T16:51:20Z

That sinking feeling hit me hard after surfacing near Palau's Blue Corner. A school of hammerheads - maybe seven, possibly ten - had materialized from the indigo void just minutes earlier. Their synchronized movements, the way sunlight fractured through their bizarre silhouettes... it was transcendent. Yet by the time I hauled myself onto the rocking dive boat, the details were already bleeding away like air bubbles vanishing at the surface. Depth? Maybe 25 meters? Location? Somewhere along that

eTickThe emergence of Lyme disease and the rapid geographical range expansion of certain tick species in Canada are important issues for public health authorities and the public in general. A citizen science project called eTick invites the public to participate in the monitoring of ticks in Canada by submitting tick photos via a mobile application or a web site (eTick.ca) for identification by trained personnel. The identification results (usually returned within 1 business day) appear in real

Rain lashed against the bus window like scattered pebbles, trapping me in that gray limbo between apartment and cubicle. My forehead pressed against cold glass, breath fogging a tiny circle as I scrolled through another soul-crushing newsfeed. That's when the notification flashed - Pod migration alert: 7 dolphins approaching harbor. My thumb moved on instinct, tapping the icon I'd downloaded during last week's insomnia spiral. Suddenly, my cracked phone screen flooded with liquid turquoise.

ButterflyCountThe world is increasingly aware of the perilous state of wildlife, and there have been widescale reports of declines in numbers of insects. Butterflies are no exception, being threatened in many parts of the world. There is an urgent need to greatly improve the knowledge of this vital part of biodiversity to help inform their conservation.This European Butterfly Monitoring (eBMS) App enables you to contribute to butterfly conservation by providing important information on where d

Bugs MatterThe number of insects has been falling at an alarming rate for many years. It's no exaggeration to say that unless something is done to halt the decline, our own future could be at risk. Patterns and trends in insect numbers are nuanced however, and we still don't have that much information on the relative rate of decline over time, and there are too few studies looking at this problem. The Bugs Matter app is an application that enables you to get involved in this critical biodiversit

Salt spray stung my eyes as I stared at the massacre along Cape Cod's shoreline - cigarette butts nesting in dune grass like toxic birds' eggs, plastic shards mimicking seashells, a gutted fish corpse wrapped in six-pack rings. My hands trembled with useless rage until cold aluminum bit my palm: my phone, forgotten until now. That's when I remembered the promise whispered among marine biology grad students - the digital catalyst turning rage into research.

That stubborn woodpecker hammered away at the oak tree, its red crest flashing mockingly as I fumbled with my dog-eared bird guide. Rain dripped down my neck, pages sticking together while my hiking boots sank deeper into Appalachian mud. For decades, this ritual defined my nature walks – frantic page-flipping as creatures vanished before identification. The frustration felt physical, like carrying concrete blocks of printed knowledge that always arrived too late. Then came the revolution: a fri

EternaEterna is a citizen science game where players learn to design RNA molecules for medical research by solving puzzles. Complete puzzles to unlock lab access and participate in challenges where you can invent medicine!

Marine Debris TrackerDebris Tracker is an open data citizen science movement, powered by Morgan Stanley. Join us in creating a bigger picture of the plastic pollution crisis by using the app to report litter wherever you find it, from our oceans to your backyard. Every day, dedicated educational, non-profit, and scientific organizations and passionate citizen scientists from all around the world use the Debris Tracker app to record GPS data on inland and marine debris. To date, Debris Tracker us

Flora IncognitaFLORA INCOGNITA - DISCOVER THE DIVERSITY OF NATUREWhat's blooming? With the Flora Incognita app, this question is quickly answered. Take a picture of a plant, find out what it's called and learn everything you want to know with the help of a fact sheet. Highly precise algorithms based on artificial intelligence identify wild plants even when they are not (yet) in bloom!In the Flora Incognita app you can easily view all your collected plant finds in a observation list. Maps show wh

The canyon walls swallowed daylight whole as shadows stretched like ink across the sandstone. I'd been chasing that golden-hour photo when my boot slipped on scree, sending me skidding down an unmarked ravine. Dust coated my throat as I scrambled upright, disoriented and suddenly aware of the silence – no cars, no hikers, just the dry whisper of wind through chaparral. My phone showed zero bars, and that familiar icy dread crawled up my spine. Last time this happened in Malibu Creek, I'd wandere

MedusAppObtaining information about jellyfish sightings and stings is crucial for the various scientific research works.And having a small tool that anyone can carry installed on their mobile phone and that simplifies the task of reporting jellyfish or its effects on people is just what was needed to provide data to science.Just take the photo to the jellyfish with Medusapp, and when you send it you will also be sending GPS coordinates to make a real-time map of the places where these marine ani

The Louisiana marsh air hung thick with brine and uncertainty that morning, my kayak slicing through tea-colored water as dawn painted the cypress trees in gold. I remember the tug—a violent jerk that nearly toppled me—followed by the electric thrill of something powerful fighting on the line. When I finally hauled it up, gasping, I stared at a creature shimmering like liquid emerald: slender, toothy, and utterly unfamiliar. My heart hammered against my ribs. Was this protected? Would a warden m

iRecord ButterfliesButterflies are in trouble. A third of UK species are threatened and three-quarters are in decline. Butterfly recording is the foundation for protecting these beautiful creatures. The iRecord Butterflies app has been developed by the charity Butterfly Conservation and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to help you identify the butterflies that you see and to submit your sightings through iRecord so that they can be used to protect butterflies and the environment.The app use

Whale AlertProtect Whales. Prevent Collisions. Join the Effort.Vessel strikes are a leading cause of whale injury and death around the world. With the Whale Alert app, you can help keep whales safe—whether you're a mariner, recreational boater, beachgoer, or scientist.Whale Alert turns yo

AléaIGN (National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information) is implementing the Random application. This application is a collaborative reporting tool. It allows you to simply send reports as part of an information gathering campaign.These reports may, for example, make it possible to

FlorAppWith a smartphone, entering observations has never been so enjoyable. Info Flora is therefore pleased to provide a free App for entering your field observations of all species of the Swiss Flora.During your excursions, even without telephone network, you can enter your observations, locate th

CloudSpotterDiscover the amazing world of clouds with your pocket guide to the wonders of the sky and have your spottings verified as you build your own collection of clouds. Learn how to spot 58 different cloud formations and optical effects, from the common ones like Cumulus clouds and rainbows to

Clean SwellJoin a global movement to keep beaches, waterways and our ocean trash free! Clean Swell® makes it easy for anyone to make an impact. When you head out to clean up in your neighborhood, beach, or park use Clean Swell to be a part of long-lasting solutions. With this app you can easi

ObsIdentifyRecognize nature in one click! Take a photo in Europe or the Dutch Caribbean and find out which species it is. Collect all your wildlife observations in the app. You'll be rewarded with tips to find new species, earn badges, and be invited to join challenges. Create groups with colleagues