Detroiters Do Science: Nature in Your Neighborhood

Discover and track the nature in your neighborhood. What are you seeing in your backyard or your local park? This effort's all about nature close-to-home.

Zooniverse

An eclectic “zoo” of ongoing research projects! Also available as an app!  iOS // Android

Michigan ZoomIN

ID critters caught on camera, help U-M learn more about ecological dynamics.

Stall Catchers

Stall Catchers turns data collection on blood vessels into a world-wide online game.

iNaturalist

Are you a nature nerd? Share your photos of plants, animals, and other things you find outdoors for science! Also available as an app! iOS // Android

2020 City Nature Challenge

Congratulations! Nearly 200 people in Washtenaw County took over 1,500 pictures of 500+ species of local plants and wildlife for the City Nature Challenge. Even if you missed the challenge, there's plenty of time to get familiar with fungi, identify insects, and recognize reptiles. iNaturalist is FREE and available for you to use anywhere in the world at any time. 
Recordings of the City Nature Challenge Live Discussions explore the features and functionality of iNaturalist.org with the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation, University of Michigan Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the School for Environment and Sustainability, the Museum of Zoology, and members of the community.

Folding At Home

A protein’s shape determines its function. Run simulations of protein folding and movement on your personal computer to help scientists learn more about proteins and their role in diseases.

FoldIt 

The shape of a protein allows it to function: new fold, new function! Solve puzzles and virtually “fold” proteins to better understand (and potentially) treat diseases, including the novel coronavirus.

NASA Globe Observer

Go global with your citizen science! Help NASA scientists understand the environmental dynamics that affect the world. Also available as an app! iOS / Android

Balloon Debris

Record observations of balloon remnants in your area to help U-M researchers stop the pollution party.

WeDigBio

Crowds curate collections in this initiative to create digital data about biodiversity specimens.

Notes from Nature - MI - Bug

Help document historical insect diversity with the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology on Zooniverse!

Want to learn more? 

Check out the four-part PBS documentary series Crowd and the Cloud for more about community and citizen science. For even more projects, check out SciStarter, to discover projects by location, type, focus area, appropriate age range, and more.

 

 

 

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