Citizen Science Networks
This Web Seminar took place on October 11, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. The presenters were
from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, & Snow (CoCoRaHS) network and
from NOAA’s National Weather Service. Mr. Reges and Mr. Zdrojewski talked about
different programs that involve citizens in gathering scientific data.
The PowerPoint and related resources from the NSTA Learning Center are now contained
in the above resource collection. Clicking on the collection link will place it
in your Learning Center, My Library, neatly organized under the My Resource
Mr. Reges began the program by talking about the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail
& Snow (CoCoRaHS) network and describing how both teachers and students can become
involved. The program enlists the work of citizen volunteers in collecting rain,
hail, and snow data from across the country. Mr. Zdrojewski discussed the Cooperative
Observer Program (Coop), an initiative dating back to the work of Thomas Jefferson
and Benjamin Franklin that engages citizens in monitoring weather conditions throughout
Twenty-one (21) participants were present at the live Web Seminar in addition to
the presenter and NSTA staff. Participating educators represented the states of
California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, South
Dakota, Tennessee. Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. In addition, three participants
attended the Web Seminar from locations outside the United States: Dominican Republic,
Nicaragua and Turkey.
Seminar participants received the NSTA
SciGuide of their choice. A certificate of attendance was deposited
into participants My PD Record and Certificate area in the NSTA Learning
Center for completing the evaluation form at the end of the program.
Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:
- “The CoCoRahs is a great network example to reproduce in my country.”
- “I can see everyone can become a "citizen scientists."
- “I am very excited about the CoCoRaHS program!!! It will involve my students
in participating in science data collection.”
- “Applicable to schools and to the community. Great information on opportunities
to get involved in monitoring weather or ways to analyze weather patterns - nice
to know what's going on around us!”
Thanks to the participants and the presenter for the learning opportunity, the interactions, and a job well done!
For more information contact firstname.lastname@example.org
Sponsored by NOAA