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Paper: NASA Citizen Science: An Accessible and Authentic Invitation to Be Part of Scientific Discovery!
Volume: 537, ASP 2022: A Virtual Conference
Page: 16
Authors: Kirn, S.; Caspi, A.; Kovac, S.
Abstract: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) citizen science program invites everyone - regardless of prior knowledge, location, or citizenship - to contribute to NASA's research mission. NASA recognizes the immense potential of diverse people - with unique skills, perspectives, knowledge, and locations - to generate new scientific knowledge. Each project is a structured opportunity to work with scientists and peers to answer a research question. Whether you are a formal or informal educator, club leader, or simply an astronomy enthusiast, there's likely a project to fit your interest and skill level - with plenty of opportunity to learn. Projects can serve as weather-proof activities that can be done by groups or as opportunities for individuals. There are currently 30 projects across NASA's five science divisions: Astrophysics (origins and evolution of our universe), Biological and Physical Sciences (experiments related to life in space), Earth Science (health and function of our home planet), Heliophysics (our Sun and the space weather it creates), Planetary Science (planetary objects in our solar system). Projects invite people to perform a variety of tasks, from making and sharing observations (in pictures or data) to classifying data or images online. Each project provides online training; many offer ways to connect with peers and scientists. Several offer standards-aligned educational materials. New projects are forming in anticipation of the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. Citizen CATE (Continental America Telescopic Eclipse), which engaged 68 U.S. sites to capture sequential views of the 2017 eclipse, is launching a next-generation campaign under the path of the 2024 eclipse to make a 60-minute movie of the April 8th totality event. If you are itching to make a project around your own research question, check out the NASA Citizen Science Seed Funding call: https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/citizenscience/nasa-funding-available-for-scientists.
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