Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science (CCS)
- Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science (CCS) is an NLM and NIH priority area for NNLM. Through citizen science and crowdsourcing, NNLM can engage communities in addressing societal needs and accelerating biomedical science, technology, and innovation.
- Collaborations between communities and researchers build capacity to address problems and meet research goals. Community participation in the research process also builds trust between NNLM and the communities that we serve.
- Engaging network members through CCS supports NLM’s FY2020 Congressional Justification, which states that NLM is "committed to encouraging citizen science as a way to provide opportunities for members of the community to work with NLM to improve and apply NLM products and services in novel ways" by creating a link between NLM researchers and the community.
Featured Projects
- Globe at Night
- Flu Near You
- Debris Tracker
- I See Change
- Stall Catchers
- Crowd the Tap
- Find More Projects Near You
Project Kits and Other Promotional Materials
- SciStarter.org/NLM
- CitizenScienceMonth.org
- CitizenScienceMonth.org/Resources
- SciStarter.org/Library-Resources
Citizen Science Basics
- Introduction to Citizen Science) (30 min interactive tutorial)
- Get Started in Citizen Science with SciStarter (two-minute video)
- How To Videos for Citizen Science (playlist of videos)
- Library and Community Guide to Citizen Science (PDF)
Citizen Science Month - Resources for Libraries
Citizen Science Month is observed annually in April to celebrate and promote all things citizen science: amazing discoveries, incredible volunteers, hardworking practitioners, inspiring projects, and anything else citizen science-related! This global celebration includes events hosted by libraries, institutions, community groups, museums, and individuals all around the world.
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) has partnered with SciStarter to support Citizen Science Month in April 2020. In 2019, the two organizations worked collaboratively to promote Citizen Science Day in libraries, to increase awareness of citizen science in communities across the nation, and help individuals explore the impact of their environment on health.
In 2020, during the month of April, NNLM and SciStarter seek to host citizen science activities in select cities and would like to engage the NNLM community in this effort.
How to Host an Event
Here’s how your library can host an event:
- Sign up with this form.
- Receive a program kit with instructions on facilitating an event
- Set a date and register your event on the SciStarter website
- Have fun with Citizen Science!
Featured Projects
Get inspiration for activities you can plan by reviewing these featured projects that SciStarter and the NLM curated at https://scistarter.org/nlm. Additional resources to support Citizen Science Month and other citizen science activities in your region can also be found at CitizenScienceMonth.org.
Through citizen science and crowdsourcing, NNLM engages communities in addressing societal needs and accelerating biomedical science, technology, and innovation. Community participation in the research process also builds trust between NNLM and the communities that we serve.
Citizen Science Kits
Due to the COVID-19 National Emergency, and following instructions from our sponsoring agency, the All of Us Research Program funded in-person activities must be postponed until further notice. This includes the shipping of Citizen Science Kits to libraries, as they will be a part of in-person events for library staff to provide to families in their communities. Citizen Science Kits may be ordered but will not be shipped during this period.
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the All of Us Research Program (All of Us) to highlight citizen science as a way to increase involvement of people living in the United States in scientific research as a way to reduce barriers between health research and the public.
NNLM is offering a new resource, the “Test the Waters” Citizen Science kit, to libraries and organizations to support citizen science outreach efforts in local communities through fun and accessible activities. If you are interested in receiving a loanable “Test the Waters” kit for your organization, please fill out the below form. The NNLM has a limited number of kits available, and priority will be given to libraries affiliated with ARSL and ABOS. Confirmation of receipt of your request for a kit will be provided by your regional representative. However, they cannot confirm if you will receive a kit until the NNLM is cleared to proceed with shipping of kits. At that time an NNLM representative will provide you with updated information. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and flexibility.
Please find below the audio files for the Activity Guide in a variety of different languages and the sanitation guide for the kits.