SciStarter FAQ
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Frequently asked questions
SciStarter is the place to find, join, and contribute to science through providing people access to thousands of searchable research projects and events. But more than just a project and event directory, SciStarter also offers a coordinated place to record participation, find a suite of free training materials, connect with a community of 150,000 people, and access resources and support from local libraries, museums and community based organizations.
SciStarter helps bring together the millions of citizen scientists in the world; the thousands of potential projects offered by researchers, organizations, and companies; and the resources, products, and services that enable people to pursue and enjoy these activities.
We aim to:
- Enable and encourage people to learn about, participate in, and contribute to science through both informal recreational activities and formal research efforts.
- Inspire greater appreciation and promote a better understanding of science and technology among the general public.
- Create a shared space where scientists can talk with citizens interested in working on or learning about their research projects.
- Satisfy the popular urge to tinker, build, and explore by making it simple and fun for people—singles, parents, grandparents, kids—to jump in and get their hands dirty with science.
Visit the various FAQ sections for FAQs based on the audience in which you identify. For the basics of citizen science and SciStarter, visit How it Works.
How it works
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen Science is science. Simple as that. The label distinguishes professionals from non-professionals. If you are a citizen scientist, you probably don’t have a formal science degree although you do engage in data collection, data analysis, and other steps of the scientific process.
If citizen science typically advances scientific research, do participants also learn anything of value?
YES! Well, if the project is designed well. Learn more in this 2018 report from the National Academies: Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design.
Why do scientists need help from regular people?
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What is SciStarter and who is it for?
SciStarter, a research affiliate of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at ASU, is the largest online database of searchable citizen science projects. Millions of people, including almost 200,000 registered SciStarter users, turn to SciStarter to find, join, and contribute to thousands of projects and events in need of their help. Citizen scientists track their contributions to projects across websites and apps making SciStarter a data-rich research platform.
SciStarter is your gateway to thousands of citizen science projects. Most projects are ideal for people who are 13 or older (primarily for the protection of children). Some projects require participants to be 18 0r older. To have an account on SciStarter, you’ll need to be 13 or older. Be sure to check the Terms of Use for each project you’d like to join through SciStarter.
SciStarter is for everyone. We serve volunteers looking to participate in citizen science projects, project leaders and teams by helping promote their projects and offering support to reach the right audiences, researchers looking to develop data on the entire citizen science field, facilitators and community organizers by supplying professional development and turnkey resources for promotion and participation within communities.
How do I join SciStarter?
YES! Well, if the project is designed well. Learn more in this 2018 report from the National Academies: Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design.
Where do the projects come from? Who adds them to SciStarter?
YES! Well, if the project is designed well. Learn more in this 2018 report from the National Academies: Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design.
What criteria does SciStarter use to publish projects?
YES! Well, if the project is designed well. Learn more in this 2018 report from the National Academies: Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design.
How is SciStarter funded?
YES! Well, if the project is designed well. Learn more in this 2018 report from the National Academies: Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design.
How does SciStarter Contribute to research?
SciStarter provides free tools to benefit 1) project owners, by reducing overhead for code, targeted recruitment and volunteer management; 2) participants, who track and earn credit for their contributions to projects; 3) organizations, including Girl Scouts USA, OSHER at ASU, Discover Magazine, PBS, Broward County, FL school district, NC State University, ASU, public libraries, Verizon, and others, who contract SciStarter to create customized portals with curated projects of relevance to their communities and acquire data analytics and assessments to award badges, credits, and recognition; and 4) researchers who learn more about the motivations, behaviors, and learning outcomes of participants.
Learn more about these tools at SciStarter.org/API.
What is Citizen Science Month?
YES! Well, if the project is designed well. Learn more in this 2018 report from the National Academies: Learning Through Citizen Science: Enhancing Opportunities by Design.
SciStarter for Volunteers or “Citizen ScienTists”
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SciStarter for Project Leaders
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SciStarter for Facilitators
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