SciStarter is a globally acclaimed online hub that connects people with citizen science projects — real science that anyone can do. It hosts the world’s largest searchable database of projects, making it easy for anyone to discover, join, and contribute to real scientific research.
By registering your project on SciStarter at https://scistarter.org/add, you make it discoverable to millions of people actively looking for ways to participate in real scientific research. SciStarter also provides free recruitment tools, data insights, training resources, and promotional support to help you grow and sustain participation.
Recruiting and retaining volunteers is essential to the success of any citizen science project. This blog shares practical ways project leaders can use SciStarter to recruit new participants, re-engage existing volunteers, and take advantage of increased attention during Citizen Science Month in April 2026. Jump to “How to Leverage Citizen Science Month”
SciStarter brings together millions of curious and concerned people with thousands of opportunities to engage in hands-on science. As of recent years, more than 200,000 volunteers have registered on SciStarter to participate in a diverse range of projects. In short, SciStarter can and will act as a bridge between citizen science project leaders and the volunteers who power their research.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using SciStarter Resources for Participant Recruitment
- Add your project to SciStarter: Visit SciStarter.org/add to submit your project. The more information you fill out, the more likely the right volunteers are to discover your project via the Project Finder! Have recommended age groups for participation? Think your project would be great to do at the park? Have you created classroom materials for educators related to your project? Is your project global, or hyper-local? Fill out all these fields when you add your project to increase chances of discovery.
- Email the SciStarter team, and ask to be featured in the newsletter, on social media, on special pages like SciStarter.org/education and/or on the SciStarter blog: SciStarter’s social media posts have reached millions of people, and the newsletter, special pages, and blog all have a dedicated readership. Email info@scistarter.org to inquire about a feature!
- Add Events or Opportunities: SciStarter invites you to submit in-person and online events (e.g., a one-day data collection blitz or a training session) to its Events Calendar. If your project has upcoming events or webinars, list them! This can attract volunteers who are looking for citizen science events in addition to projects. Events listed on SciStarter may also be featured in the newsletter.
- Use the People Finder Tool: Go to SciStarter.org/people-finder, and send out targeted messages to SciStarter users in different places around the world.
- Become a SciStarter affiliate. SciStarter’s Affiliate program is a free program that can supercharge your project’s presence. You can become an affiliate by using the SciStarter API, or building your project on platforms like CitSci, Anecdata, iNaturalist, and Zooniverse that support integration. Becoming an affiliate empowers SciStarter users to track the number and frequency of their contributions to your project in their SciStarter dashbaord. Affiliates get a special badge on their project page and unlock enhanced benefits: greater visibility in search results, access to advanced analytics, and inclusion in SciStarter’s broad partner program network, including the Girl Scouts, Verizon, and more. SciStarter Affiliates are also prioritized by SciStarter’s recommendation engine and often featured in training modules. Email info@scistarter.org to start the process; if you’re not tech savvy, we can help you!
- Participate in SciStarter Programs. Citizen Science Month in April is definitely the best time to promote your project; use SciStarter’s free resources to do that! Also, reach out to SciStarter ambassadors or members of SciStarter’s library network to find dedicated support for outreach.
Tips for Making Your Project Stand Out to Volunteers
Listing your project on SciStarter is just the first step. To maximize volunteer engagement, you’ll want to make your SciStarter project entry as appealing and discoverable as possible. Here are some tips and best practices for standing out and attracting volunteers:
- Craft an Engaging Title and Description: Your project title should be clear and intriguing, and the description should quickly communicate what volunteers will do and why it matters.
- Use High-Quality Visuals: Projects with an image or linked video on their SciStarter page tend to draw more interest. A compelling photo, graphic, or even a short welcome video from you can make your project look professional and exciting. Visuals help volunteers imagine what they’ll be doing.
- Be Specific About Volunteer Tasks: People are more likely to join if they understand exactly what they’ll be doing. In your description and task details, clearly outline the volunteer activities. For instance: “Count butterflies in your backyard and report your observations,” or “Classify galaxies in telescope images through our web portal.” By setting clear expectations, you attract volunteers who are both interested and prepared to participate.
- Highlight the Impact and Scientific Value: Volunteers are motivated when they know their work makes a difference. Emphasize how contributions will be used. Will the data help researchers understand climate change effects, aid conservation of a species, advance medical research, or map stars in the galaxy? For example, a project fighting Alzheimer’s might note that volunteers’ efforts could help speed up drug discovery.
- Maintain an Active Presence: Projects that regularly update their status or share results tend to keep volunteers interested and attract new ones. You can update your SciStarter project page with milestones (e.g., “1,000 observations collected!”) or use the project update/news feature if available. An active project page signals momentum. Additionally, if you have significant findings or media coverage, mention it. Volunteers love to see that their contributions led to something noteworthy, and potential volunteers may be swayed by evidence that “this project is producing real results.”
How to Leverage Citizen Science Month 2026:
2.50 Million Acts of Science
April is Citizen Science Month, a global celebration of public participation in research. In 2026, SciStarter and partners are inviting projects and volunteers to work toward a shared goal of 2.50 Million Acts of Science in celebration of America’s 250th Birthday.
An Act of Science is any real contribution to scientific research, including:
- Submitting observations or data
- Classifying images or samples
- Participating in project activities or events
If people already contribute data to your project, they are already performing Acts of Science!
Citizen Science Month is an ideal time to:
- Invite new volunteers to participate
- Re-engage people who have participated before
- Highlight the impact of volunteer contributions
Participants can report their Acts of Science at CitizenScienceMonth.org and earn a digital badge and/or participation certificate recognizing their contribution.
Example Social Media Language You Can Use
Project leaders can use their own channels to invite participation in April. For example:
We’ve partnered with @SciStarter and #CitizenScientists to encourage our volunteers to join a shared effort to log 2.50 Million #ActsofScience this April. Don’t miss out. See how you can get involved: [insert your project link]
Encourage participants to share their own contributions using #ActsofScience and tag your project so you can amplify their impact.
Example Email Language to Re-Engage Existing Participants
Hello [First Name],
This April, [Name of Your Project] is joining SciStarter and partners to spark 2.50 Million Acts of Science during Citizen Science Month, and we would love for you to take part.
Every time you participate in [Name of Your Project], you are contributing valuable data and creating an Act of Science that supports real research and real-world impact.
Here is how you can take part this April:
- Visit [your project’s website] and participate anytime in April.
- Go to https://scistarter.org/citizensciencemonth to log your participation.
- Earn a digital badge recognizing your contribution to science.
Want to inspire others, too? Share your Act on social media using #ActsofScience and tag [your project’s social media handle] so we can celebrate your impact together.With appreciation,
[Your Name]
[Your Role / Project Name]
Make Use of SciStarter’s Marketing Resources
SciStarter provides ready-to-use Citizen Science Month marketing resources, including social media language, press release templates, email copy, and graphics. These materials are available at https://pages.scistarter.org/csm26-media-toolkit and are designed to make outreach easy and consistent.
Project leaders can also submit projects and events for consideration in SciStarter newsletters, blogs, and social media channels.
Add Events and Activities to Increase Engagement
If your project includes events, webinars, or coordinated activities, add them to the SciStarter Events Calendar at https://scistarter.org/events. Events in April help attract participants who are actively looking for ways to take part during Citizen Science Month, and event participation counts as Acts of Science.
Strengthen Credibility With Research Powered by SciStarter Data
SciStarter supports and publishes research examining participation patterns, engagement outcomes, and the impacts of citizen science. These studies, available at https://scistarter.org/research, are made possible by SciStarter data and partnerships.
Sharing this research with volunteers, collaborators, and funders helps demonstrate the value of participation and the broader impact of citizen science.
Support Volunteers With Free Training
SciStarter offers free training resources at https://scistarter.org/training to help volunteers feel confident and prepared to contribute high-quality data. Encouraging participants to use these resources can improve data quality, retention, and overall engagement. More than 88,000 people have already completed SciStarter’s Foundations of Citizen Science training!
Start Small and Build Momentum
You do not need to use every tool or resource at once. Even one email, one social post, or one event during April can help re-energize participation and connect your project to a shared celebration of science.
Every contribution counts. Every project matters. Every Act of Science adds up.
