There’s more than one way for a young learner to become a young scientist!
April is Citizen Science Month, and did you know that there are ongoing research projects in Canada that anyone can help with?
That’s the power of science: it welcomes everyone.
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen Science is a collaboration! When researchers need more information than they can gather alone or information from far and wide, they can put their research question out to the world and ask for assistance.
So, how do you become a citizen scientist? By the end of this article, you’ll know where to find projects in Canada.
Science is Everywhere: Canada’s Citizen Science Portal
Step number one on your journey to becoming a citizen scientist in Canada is the Citizen Science Portal. A huge range of research projects looking for the help of people like us are linked through the portal.
Check out the projects available where you live, online, and across Canada to get a sense of what citizen science is out there!
Here are two of our favourites:
We’ve had a soft spot for beluga whales ever since we got to talk to a beluga snot collector! Based out of Manitoba, the Beluga Bits project asks participants to examine photos of belugas that have passed by their under-water cameras for specific traits. At time of writing, this project is 17% complete – meaning there’s lots more to do for any aspiring citizen scientist!
We love observing nature in all kinds of habitats, and the City Nature Challenge encourages us to take our flora- and fauna-spotting skills further. This annual event invites people from across Canada to observe and record the nature around them. Once your observations are made, you then upload your findings with as much species-identifying information as possible.
Step two is simple: make a shortlist. Ask yourself, which projects stand out to you? What would you be excited to participate in? Even if something seems beyond your current capabilities, save it anyway – we have resources to help you hone your scientific mind.
Hands-on STEM Experiences for Children and Youth
Step three on the way to becoming a citizen scientist is to prepare for the project you want to help with!
Some citizen science requires a brush up on skills – like knowing your local bird calls, for example – or to simply prepare for being out and about. Regardless of if you need to learn a new skill or just pack a snack, being prepared for active science is key.
If you’re taking on an outdoor project, don’t forget to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen even on a cloudy day. And regardless of the project, we suggest having a notebook on hand to take down your findings.
If you’re looking for a hands-on approach to helping the children and youth in your life become citizen scientists, our community workshops are an excellent experience and resource!
Our workshops help kids to start thinking like scientists. (click to expand)
Our community workshop program was designed with 4-12-year-olds in mind, with hands-on investigations and activities led by a STEM Expert Presenter. These 60-minute sessions are perfect for daycares, libraries, after-school programs, summer or school break camps, Guiding and Scouting meetings, and anywhere else kids gather for extracurricular learning.
Like our classroom workshops, these experiences help kids build their STEM skills.
For example, if you’re interested in participating in the City Nature Challenge, our Noticing Nature workshop is an excellent primer on the skills a young scientist would need in order to fully participate. Community workshops are available across Canada! Find out about all the community topics available in your area.
Free Science Activities to do at Home
If you’re looking for a hands-on approach to helping the children and youth in your life become citizen scientists, our community workshops are an excellent experience and resource! Another way to get in the scientific frame of mind is to explore our free resources for at-home STEM!
Citizen science is often about observing, recording, and sharing information. These are skills kids can develop with STEM-based activities in their lives as they learn and grow. If your young learner is on the way to being a citizen scientist, try out these easy and fun activities to help them flex those STEM skills!
Take the STEM learning outdoors to soak up some of the spring sunshine:
Signs of Spring
BIRD-O
Make Friends with a Tree
Or, explore some STEM on a rainy day with these indoor activities:
Robin’s Egg Blue
Meet Mother Alligator
Thumbprint Bugs
We update our library of take-home resources for every season, so you can find more hands-on STEM for your little learners anytime.
Go into the World a Scientist!
The final step is to, of course, do some science of your own!
Science is action. Whether you’re doing some kitchen chemistry, recording your local flora, fauna, and funga, or identifying whales in the ocean, you can help advance STEM today.
Scientists in School is a Canadian science outreach charity dedicated to sparking children’s interest in STEM through hands-on discovery.
Our online workshops are available across Canada and encourage children to discover how science is used in their everyday world. We provide rich, engaging and investigative experiences with plentiful opportunities for youth to interact with the visiting scientist guiding the workshop.
Explore our workshops and help us turn your young learners into young scientists!
