This report presents findings from the evaluation of four Pulsar Search Collaboratory (PSC) activities: online training, use of website, capstone events at hub institutions, and the PSC summer camp.
To quantify how much of the night sky has been lost to light pollution, students in grades 3-8 compare their backyard view of Orion to six star charts of the constellation with varying limiting magnitudes. Using thousands of observations from across the local community, teams of students from individual schools plot the collective results by constructing a 3D model out of LEGO blocks. Beforehand, all teachers integrate some aspect of the topic in their regular classroom instruction. The website offers supporting lessons, resources, and ideas for teachers and families alike.
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Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
Join us in the search for interstellar dust! In 2006, the Stardust spacecraft returned particles of interstellar dust that originated in distant stars. But before they can be studied, these tiny dust grains will have to be found. This is where you come in! Our volunteers are using an online Virtual Microscope to search for these elusive particles, which were captured in aerogel. In addition, the discoverer of an interstellar dust particle will appear as a co-author in the discovery announcement, and will name the particle!
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University of California, BerkeleyThe Planetary SocietyNASAAndrew Westphal
The Great World Wide Starcount is a Windows to the Universe international citizen-science event that encourages everyone, astronomers and non-astronomers alike, to measure their local light pollution and report their observations online. The Great World Wide Star Count, part of the Dark Skies Awareness cornerstone project for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, raises awareness about light pollution as well as encourages learning in astronomy. No prior experience is necessary and the downloadable activity guide is available in eight different languages on the Web site.
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University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchSandra Henderson
Galaxy Zoo invites the public to help us explore the Universe by classifying galaxies according to their shape. Galaxy Zoo has already produced ten published or submitted research projects, and we've been successful in getting some of the world's largest telescopes - including Hubble - to follow up on unusual objects identified by Galaxy Zoo users. The site also has an active forum and blog for discussing the project and citizen science in general.
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Citizen Science AllianceChris Lintott
This PDF includes presentations and discussions that took place at the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007.
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Cornell Laboratory of OrnithologyCatherine McEver
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
The following is one of three focus point presentations delivered as part of the session titled “Citizen Science Project Design” on day two of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. Sandra Henderson, UCAR Citizen Science Programs Manager, discusses two citizen science campaigns, GLOBE at Night and Project BudBurst. Henderson reviews some concerns about data quality and lessons learned on data verification. Henderson also introduces a new project called Great World Side Star Count.
This is one of three focus point presentations as part of the session titled "Community Building for Citizen Science," delivered on day three of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. Suzanne Gurton, Education Manager at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, shares some examples of citizen science in the field of astronomy. Gurton also describes a new NSF-funded project called Sharing the Universe.