Ranking Citizen Science Projects by Hypothesized SuccessTraits

A few months ago I posted a long series of blog articles on the keys to successful citizen science projects.  It identified a number of major and minor themes that helped them attract users, develop good data, and lead to publishable results.  But now that I've created this model...does it really work?

To start testing the theory I've organized all the projects previously featured on this blog and ranked each from 1-7 using the various success criteria.  I chose 1-7 since it would allow a firm mid-point (for "Average" success on that trait) and would allow some differentiation between the poor performers (1-3) and high performers (5-7).  Unfortunately I'm not confident that I can personally fine-tune the rankings much further to justify a 1-9 or 1-11 scale, but this should do for now.  All this will let us create mathematical model that will hopefully predict overall success of a project, as discussed below.  But first we need to validate the rankings.

You can find a full document with the traits and individual rankings HERE.  I've created locked-down and public version of the document, so feel free to mark it up and add any important notes you'd like.  Whether you disagree with the rankings or just want to know how each was evaluated, let me know in the comments section below or in the document itself.  Only by working together can we create a model that works.

Finally, last week I asked everyone how to define "Success" in a citizen science project. I received a few good answer, like looking at number of publications (success from a scientific viewpoint), active users (from a participant viewpoint), or search popularity (from a marketing viewpoint). But I'm curious to hear if there are any more ideas? Let me know now as I look to evaluate the success of projects through some quantitative measures.

FOR MORE ON THE PREVIOUS SERIES:

• Week 1: Researching the Keys to Successful Citizen Science Projects
• Week 2: Benefit the User
• Week 3: Engage the User
• Week 4: Trust the User
• Week 5: Keep it Simple
• Week 6: Case Studies
• Week 7: Connecting it All Together

How to Define Citizen Science Success

Photo Courtesy: EU Social

I'm working on another long-term thought piece and wanted to get your opinions first.  I'll provide much more background later (to get your initial reactions without bias), but here are the initial questions I'm trying to answer:

1. How does one define "Success" for a citizen science project?
2. How can the "Success" of a citizen science project be measured? 

I'm honestly not even sure if there is a common quantifiable measure for citizen science, but for this exercise let's assume there is. 

What are your thoughts?  I'm interested to hear them in the comments below.

Two Mobile Apps for Capturing Wild Life Around You



Photo Courtesy: Dmitri N.

One of the best things about mobile citizen science apps is they are always with you.  Whatever you do, whatever you see, no matter where you are, can be recorded and tracked.  The best apps are also highly intutitive with a simple-to-use interface.  So the two biggest obstacle to participating are easily overcome.

At this point one of biggest remaining obstacle is choosing which citizen science projects to join.  Most people are willing to join one, some join many more.  But you can't do it all.  Not only do you keep yourself from getting burned out, but channeling your effort on just a few projects improves the quality and quantity of your participation.  So focus your efforts on the ones you like best. 

But how do you choose which projects to participate in?  First get to know the variety of apps available...this site and the new Citizen Science for your Phone page are a great place to start.  Also look for projects that will interest you both now and in the future; often this means a variety of different ways to participate, such as collecting data as well as analyzing it.  You might also try apps in different scientific areas...moving between two keeps all parts of your brain busy and help prevent mental fatigue.  These are just a few thoughts (there are entire blog posts possible on this topic!) but there are many more as well.

On that note we present two more mobile citizen science apps below...WildObs-Observer and WildLab-Bird.  Both are wildlife observation tools that help you identify and record animal sightings.  This data can be useful for protecting endangered species, understanding migration, and tracking population growth.  They also both collect data and make it available to public researchers to analyze and interpret (that means us!).  So what are you waiting for...won't you check them out?

Getting Started with WildLab-Bird is Easy

• Visit the WildLab web site to learn more about the project, and download the iPhone app (not yet available on Android).
• Register on the home screen with your name, e-mail address, and password.  They don't ask for much.
• Take a walk in the woods are just gaze out your window for local birds.
• When you spot a bird use the WildLab app to identify it.  First, tap "Species ID" and decide what type of area you are in: Woodland, Coastal, Wetland, or Grassland.

• Next, determine the basic type of bird observed.

• Next, narrow in on the exact species using the pictures as a guide.

• Finally, confirm the spotting by checking the bird's known range on the map ("Range") and listening to an example of its call ("Listen").  You can then add any notes, take a picture, share it with your friends (on Facebook), and submit it to WildLab.  Your notes and observation will be recorded along with the time and location you made it. 

• Visit the WildLab user site to view your sightings online and make any changes that are needed.  That's it!

Getting Started with WildObs - Observer is Easy

• Visit the WildObs web site to learn more about the project and register with your name, user name, and password.
• Download the iPhone or Android app.  Both are free applications though they are supported by third-party ads.
• Take a walk in the woods or in your backyard, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife.
• Once you encounter an animal you wish to record, open the app and click on "Species" and "Lookup by Species name" to determine the exact species being identified.  You can add as little information (e.g., frog) or as much (e.g., American Green Tree Frog) as you know. 
• Review the hit-list of possibilities (with pictures) to determine the exact species.

• Make your selection for close-up picture and links to encounters by other WildObs users.
• Click on "Record Observation" to confirm the animal's identity.  This will bring up a screen for including a picture, description, and keyword tags.

• Tap "Save" to record the encounter and share it with the WildObs team.  You may also share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ if you wish.
• That's all there is to it!

Hopefully one of these two new apps will be of interest to you.  They don't require much work, but if you see something interesting and want to record if for posterity (and science!), fire up this app and follow the directions.  Biologists will thank you for it.

Watching Venus Fly Across the Sun

Photo Courtesy: Jan Herold

One of the best things about citizen science movement blogging is discovering the wide diversity of projects available to users.  Many have been created and each year more are added to the growing list of projects to join.  But today we talk about a special project.  A once-in-a-lifetime project.  A project tracking the upcoming Transit of Venus across the sun.

A similar event occurred eight years ago before the citizen science community was ready to participate.  The next one is scheduled for June 5-6, 2012, and there won't be another until 2117.  So this is literally our last-chance to get involved!

During a Transit the Sun, Earth, and Venus line up perfectly.  As Venus passes between Earth and the Sun, you can actually see it as a black dot traveling across the face of the Sun.  Kind of like an Eclipse but much smaller and with a planet.  Although fun to watch for the sheer  neatness factor, it has played a very important role historically in our understanding of the sky.  By positioning observers across the globe and precisely recording the time the Transit started and stopped, astronomers could calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun.  It just took a little understanding of geometry (the principle of Parallax) and accurate data.

Obviously we already know the distance to the Sun and don't need a Venusian transit to calculate it.  However, there are still very important research being performed during this upcoming event.  Some scientists will be analyzing light passing through Venus' atmosphere to get a better idea of what the air is made of.  This helps not just for Venus, but as a "calibration run" for observing far-distant exoplanets as they cross in front of their own parent stars.  This helps us learn the limits of exoplanet observations and can provide clues for getting more information during future exoplanet transits.

So what are you waiting for?  June 5 is almost here!

Getting Started is Easy:

• Learn more about the upcoming Transit of Venus and the history of transits at TransitofVenus.org, a web site published by Astronomers without Borders.
• Download the VenusTransit mobile app for iPhone or Android.
• Open the application and click on "Visibility".  It will find your current location and tell you when the Transit can be seen in your area.

• Now you need to get ready for the event.  First, pick up some eclipse shades, welder's goggles, or other heavy-duty eye protection.  Staring at the sun literally causes blindness so you want to be prepared.  Pick some up at a local hobby shop, an astronomy web site, or even Amazon.com.
• Practice making transit observations using the app's simulation function.  You will see a video clip of Venus from the 2004 event and must correctly log it's start/times.  Just press the timer when the planet first fully enters and first exits the sun's sphere.  After each attempt you will be given the "actual" observation so you can continue practicing your skills.

• On Transit day, watch the sun (using proper protection!) and click on the app's "Timer" button.  Start and Stop the timer as the planet enters and exits.  The phone will do all the rest, although you can provide extra data or pictures once the Transit is over.

The Transit is fast approaching and there won't be another for 115 years.  So download the app now, pick up some glasses, and run a few simulations on your phone. And if you get any good pictures send them my way.  I'd love to see them!



FOR MORE MOBILE APPS VISIT THE NEW Citizen Science for your Phone PAGE !

Studying Roadkill to Prevent it

Photo Courtesy: Splatter-Spotter
and California State University

Today I'm looking at the Splatter Spotter mobile citizen science App.  It's a simple project asking users to report any roadkill they find on their travels.  At first this may seem morbid, gross, or just a little bit weird.  But it's a well-meaning scientific project aiming to save wildlife and avoid future kills.

Each year over a million animals are killed on America's roads and the numbers continue to grow.  This is not just sad because some cute, furry creatures are violently killed.  It's also a problem for impacting animal migration routes, threatening endangered species, harming the natural balance between predator and prey, and increasing vehicle accidents and human injuries.  So improving our understanding is not just a dark curiosity; it's a needed start to solving these problems.

Strangely not much good data exists on the amount and locations roadkill incidents.  Which animals are hit the most?  Where do most incidents occur?  Are there commonalities between locations?  How can we design roads to minimize roadkill?  Most studies have been very small and include potentially unreliable data.  Sure, road crews can tally the animals they find, but tracking is inconsistent with great potential for reporting bias.

That is where citizen scientists come in.  We already travel roads across the country with great local, regional, and national coverage.  And reporting is simple with just a few clicks on a mobile device.  Just recording the location and general type of animal can go a long way to creating a reliable incident database.  So won't you pitch in?

Getting Started is Easy:

• Visit the Splatter Spotter home page to learn more about the program and the science behind the project.
• Download the Splatter Spotter App for iPhone (it's not yet available for Android).
• Start driving your local roads.  Of course we hope you don't find any roadkill, but invariably you probably will.
• If you see a kill while driving normally, open the application and click on "Current Location" to record your position.  If you posting about a previous encounter, use the "From the Map" option to find your position.
• Once the location is set you need to describe the animal.  If you know the specific species the pull-down list will have it.  If not, categorize the animal by size (small, medium, or large) and choose the general option best describing the animal.  For example, "Unknown Small Animal", "Raven or Crow", or "Unknown Frog".   Further examples are shown below.

• If you like, take a photo and attach in the next screen.  This will help scientists identify the animal if you are unable, or interpret any interesting facts about your sighting.
• The final step is reporting on road conditions, such as the type of surroundings (urban, wildland, orchards, etc), road speed, and visibility.

• Once you've mastered this portion (which shouldn't take you long at all), you can also set the application to record in "Transect" mode.  This is perfect for a long road trip.  Select the transect option and it will continue recording your location. When you find roadkill, just provide the animal and road description (described above) while everything else is taken care of automatically.

That's all there is to it! 

This is a very simple app to use and requires no special training.  Just drive along the roads as you normally do.  If you stumble across a kill, record a few basic pieces of data for us.  I know it's kind of gross and may not seem worthwhile, but every piece of information helps.  Won't you help too?



FOR MORE MOBILE APPS VISIT THE NEW Citizen Science for your Phone PAGE !