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Biology 120 - Environmental Science: Citizen Science

Find information for Biology 120.

Overview

In BIOL 120, our goal is not only for you to learn about environmental science, but also to apply that knowledge, engage in scientific practices, reflect on your experiences, and thoughtfully respond to relevant questions. In our Citizen Science project, you'll choose an active scientific study to participate in, giving you the chance to contribute to meaningful ecological research. Please read each part of the assignment carefully, follow the instructions, and post your responses to the prompts in each step. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact your instructor.

Scientific Method

Consider the following steps of the Scientific Method we have introduced this unit:

  1. Make an Observation
  2. Ask a Question & Look at the Literature
  3. Form a Hypothesis
  4. Test the Prediction (Hypothesis)
  5. Review the Results

Note: not every type of environmental research follows this "classic" method exactly. Particularly in field research, the order and emphasis of steps may change.

This short article explains some differences in field vs. lab research methods:

Tips for Picking a Project

Before you pick a project, make sure that it has direct connections to biodiversity and is appropriate for the season we are in. For example, if it is wintertime, looking for butterflies will not be productive. You will be asked to design a mini research project that relates to your Citizen Science project. Your specific contributions will involve looking at the project, making an observation, doing some research on the topic, creating a hypothesis, and then planning out your methods for how you will test your hypothesis in your data collection.

Find a Project

Find a project on scistarter.com that supports biodiversity conservation or preservation AND is possible to complete where you live given the season you are in.

If you would prefer, we invite you to create your own mini research project that could potentially become a Citizen Science Project.

Be sure to secure your professor's approval before you begin.