Rules of the Game: A Study about Children and Language

Seeking research participants 4.5-5 years of age

As children grow, they learn to think about what is good for the community and to make sure everyone feels included. But how does the language that adults use foster children's attention to these character virtues or lessons? 

Through their study, “Rules of the Game,” Dr. Susan Gelman and Dr. Ariana Orvell from the U-M Department of Psychology are trying to understand whether young children rely on small shifts in language to figure out new rules. 

You and your child can participate from home. All you need is a device with internet access and a webcam or built in camera. If your child participates in this study, the research team will send you a $5 Amazon gift card as a thank you!

Your child must be 4.5-5 years of age (i.e. 4 years 6 months – 5 years 11 months) to participate, and should be from a primarily English speaking household (exposed to English 90% of the time).

If you'd like to sign your child up for this study, you can select an appointment here.

For any questions or concerns, please email conceptlab@umich.edu

 

Angling For Data

Something's fishy. There is little doubt that climate change, deforestation, and invasive species have impacted fish populations in lakes throughout Michigan. Documenting how and where is no small task, but now you can help! 

The University of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources teamed up on this Zooniverse project where volunteers can help transcribe more than a century's worth of fish observation records from lakes throughout Michigan.

Contributions to the project will allow researchers and resource managers to better understand changes in fish populations over the last hundred years; to build models to predict what changes are likely to occur in the future; and test which management strategies will improve the resilience of fish populations.

Yooper Wildlife Watch

Yooper Wildlife Watch was created by researchers at Northern Michigan University and they need your help identifying amazing wildlife inhabiting the forests of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. By taking part in Yooper Wildlife Watch, you will be helping researchers learn how diverse wildlife are responding to variations in seasonal human recreation activities in one of the most beautiful regions in the United States.

Sedimental Values: Digging In to La Brea's Past 

Help unlock 40 years worth of paleontology data by transcribing field notes from the La Brea Tar Pits. This will allow for the preparation and curation of future collections. In turn, this will inform curators, students, and visiting paleontologists about what was living in the LA region over the past 50,000+ years. 

This research is being conducted as part of the Collections, Heterogeneous data, and Next Generation Ecological Studies (CHANGES) project at the University of Michigan. 

Stall Catchers

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

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!

Michigan ZoomIN

Trail cams for science! Developed by U-M’s Dr. Nyeema Harris, this project uses trail cameras to photograph wildlife throughout the state to help understand populations, migrations, and other ecological dynamics. You can help by identifying critters caught on camera.

Zooniverse

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

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

Stall Catchers

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

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.

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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