Research by Subject: Citizen Science: Citizen Science Month in the SDSU Library

April 2024 Citizen Science Workshops

In April, 2024, the SDSU Library and the Green Team will be focusing on Citizen Science initiatives to highlight the importance of citizen science, explain what it is, and illustrate some projects linked to our community, as well as the environment, especially for Earth Day. The following workshops will be held outside on the North Porch of Love Library near the Farmer's Market on Thursdays:

All of Us UCSD, April 11, 12-2 p.m. Register here if you are interested.
Litter Journal, April 18, 12-2 p.m.
iNaturalist, April 25, 12-2 p.m.

Parking instructions If you are coming to the SDSU campus for these events. Navigate to Parking Structure 1, park on level 6, use the "PaybyPhone" app: https://parking.sdsu.edu/permits/pay-by-phone, with code 28501 to identify the parking structure.

iNaturalist April 25, 2024

iNaturalist
iNaturalist is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. It is also a crowdsourced species identification system and an organism occurrence recording tool. You can use it to record your own observations, get help with identifications, collaborate with others to collect this kind of information for a common purpose, or access the observational data collected by iNaturalist users.
From hikers to hunters, birders to beach-combers, the world is filled with naturalists, and many of us record what we find. What if all those observations could be shared online? You might discover someone who finds beautiful wildflowers at your favorite birding spot, or learn about the birds you see on the way to work. If enough people recorded their observations, it would be like a living record of life on Earth that scientists and land managers could use to monitor changes in biodiversity, and that anyone could use to learn more about nature.

Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. We share your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.

This year, we are focusing on our City Nature Challenge, San Diego County, which is co-organized by the SDSU Biodiversity Museum, between April 26 and 29 in honor of Earth Day and Month, with more details here.

On Thursday, April 25, the SDSU Green Team representatives will show you how to do all of this!

Download the iNaturalist App on iOS or Android.

Litter Journal April 18, 2024

Litter Journal
The South Carolina Aquarium encourages citizens, no matter where you are located, to track and remove plastics and other debris from both land and water. Litter data are critical in identifying the most problematic debris and can be a powerful tool in helping to develop solutions for reducing trash. Collectively, these efforts improve human health, promote habitat conservation, and save wildlife.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Gather your supplies: bag, gloves, and your smartphone or paper datasheet.
Choose any location with litter that you can safely and legally access.
Contribute your data: As you pick up litter, document the numbers & types of all the debris items. Include brand names, if possible.
Take photos: Team photos with the total amount of litter collected are a great way to document your impact.
Remove and properly recycle or dispose of the litter.

Above all, have fun, stay safe, and pat yourself on the back for being a hero to the planet!

On Thursday April 18 the SDSU Green Team representatives will show you how to do all of this!

The SC Aquarium Citizen Science app for iOS and Android is a great tool to collect data.

All of Us Data Collection April 11, 2024

What is the All of Us Research Program?

The All of Us Research Program, or All of Us for short, is a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is seeking to enroll one million or more people from across the U.S. to advance medical research. People who join All of Us will share information about their health, habits, and what it’s like where they live. By looking for patterns, researchers may learn more about what affects people’s health. During our workshop, the All of Us UCSD team will be prepared to collect data and answer your questions on Thursday, April 11 between 12 noon and 2 p.m.

If you join All of Us and provide biosamples, like blood or saliva, you may choose to learn more about your DNA:

Your genetic ancestry
Your risk for certain hereditary diseases
Your body's reaction to certain medicines

There is no cost to participate other than some of your time. Most people will spend no more than a few hours a year taking part in the program's activities. You can find out about research powered by the data you've shared. You will join a community of people who are already making a difference. Join All of Us today: https://joinallofus.org/nlm.