LEARN CitSci, or the Learning and Environmental science Agency Research Network for Citizen Science, is a 4-year, international research project which aims to better understand how youth learn science and develop Environmental Science Agency (ESA) through their participation in natural history museum community science programming. Through collaboration with scientists, community science practitioners and education researchers in the US and UK, LEARN CitSci looks to answer how we can use community science programming to better educate, enable and empower youth in science. The project is funded through Science Learning+, a partnership between the National Science Foundation in the US and Wellcome with the UK Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) in the UK.
The goal of this project is to create a shareable resource to assist educators and community science practitioners in making community science a more powerful method of youth engagement. What aspects of a project are the best in fostering an ability for youth to make change in their community? What components are most effective in educating about science content? We hope to answer these questions and share our findings with the community science field working to create the next generation of science leaders!
To find out more about this project, contact us and learn how to get involved! We’re actively looking for families and youth-focused community partners who wish to participate by coming to one of Cal Academy’s bioblitzes.
Our Collaborators:
Our bioblitzes are powered by iNaturalist, our in-house, citizen science platform. It's a community-powered website and app that makes it easy to upload and share your observations in the field and to get help from other users with flora and fauna IDs.
Attend an upcoming bioblitz with us and participate in your local science community
Have questions about our citizen science programs? Want to get involved? Email us at communityscience@calacademy.org.
Academy citizen science is led by Rebecca Johnson, Alison Young, and Annie Miller.