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How to build and run a citizen science research project.

This is a course for anyone who wants to get involved in developing a citizen science research project.

Using off the shelf equipment, and free software, course participants will learn how to go from constructing a research question, to analyzing data, to communicating their findings.

This course follows the scientific method through a series of questions. In addressing these questions participants will develop and run their project.

This course seeks to both increase the scientific literacy skills of its participants, as well as increase their level of civic engagement through science.

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Defining a phenomenon of interest

Now that you've chosen a field of interest the next step is to focus on a specific phenomenon within that field to study. For example, if you're interested in atmospheric science then a specific phenomenon to study would be geospatial variations in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. Or, if you're interested in sociology a specifc phenonmenon of study would be the relationship between income and size of a social network.

Within your field, what do you want to study?

Task Discussion

Viana Garcia June 28, 2013, 2:05 p.m.

I would like to figure out why the bugs are attracted to curtain types of LED lights .
levisimons June 28, 2013, 3:28 p.m.
In Reply To: Viana Garcia June 28, 2013, 2:05 p.m.

Viana,

Short answer: evolution.

Longer answer: UV light has been useful for insects in navigation, so their eyes are quite sensitive to it. Here's some background information: http://www.cree.com/~/media/Files/Cree/Lighting/Misc%20Tech%20Docs/InsectVision_UVColorandLEDLight.pdf
Tristian June 27, 2013, 2:33 p.m.

I want to know what type of insectects we will catch depending on the color of the LED light.
Stephanie Trejo June 27, 2013, 2:14 p.m.

I want to learn what types of LED'S will attract most insects
levisimons June 27, 2013, 2:18 p.m.
In Reply To: Stephanie Trejo June 27, 2013, 2:14 p.m.

Stephanie,

Check this one out: http://www.energycircle.com/blog/2011/08/17/correction-led-lights-do-attract-bugs
MaxCaplow June 17, 2013, 3:40 p.m.

cosmic rays, and how they interact with Earth
levisimons June 17, 2013, 5:44 p.m.
In Reply To: MaxCaplow June 17, 2013, 3:40 p.m.

Searching for 'extensive air shower ' yields a good starting point.
David Olin June 17, 2013, 3:37 p.m.

Cosmic rays from interstellar phenomena.
levisimons June 17, 2013, 5:46 p.m.
In Reply To: David Olin June 17, 2013, 3:37 p.m.

Start with a search on 'source cosmic rays' and 'source cosmic rays accelerated by supernova shocks'.
Jesse June 17, 2013, 2:40 p.m.

Optimizing trap design for cost-effective arthropod capture
levisimons June 17, 2013, 3:14 p.m.
In Reply To: Jesse June 17, 2013, 2:40 p.m.

Here's the background research: http://scienceland.wikispaces.com/BioSCAN