The ways to become a citizen scientist have grown over the years, as new devices and apps allow any community member to contribute data from around the world to various scientific projects.

Many projects are focused on the collection of data that relates to environmental health.

There’s such a wide variety and huge amount of environmental data points constantly fluctuating through time and geography that no single organization has come close to being able to collect it all.

So community members everywhere can become environmental sentinels, collecting data sparsely and randomly, yet together creating a breadth of data useful for furthering our scientific understanding and enabling better policy and environmental management practices.

If you are someone who wants to contribute to environmental science, becoming a citizen scientist is a fantastic way to contribute.

And in many cases, you are likely doing something you already enjoy, such as photographing biodiversity in your area, or listening to birdsong.

Become a Citizen Scientist on your Trail Adventures

There’s few things better than spending a day on the trails. Whether you’re hiking or, like me, love to trail run, you also probably love nature and want to keep it healthy and protected.

Wouldn’t it be great if every trek on the trails was supporting those places you love?

That sentiment was fundamental to the conception of Canary Upcycled.

Trail runners and hikers spend hours upon hours on nature trails.

Some data collection points, such as air pollution data, is almost entirely located within cities leaving large parks and wilderness areas as “air pollution data blind spots.”

Other data, including wildlife concentrations and movements, biodiversity, and forest health data, are sparse and rudimentary.

As frequent trail users, we have an opportunity to help support environmental science data collection while doing the things we love to protect the places we love.

Citizen Scientists that Run!

As hikers and trail runners, we cover a lot of ground.

And for the few of us who love ultratrail running, we really cover a lotof ground!

And I get a tremendous amount in return from being lucky enough to spend time in nature.

• Mental health: time in nature quiets and focuses the mind, especially when your heart rate’s up! Also, it’s a great way to relieve stress and simply a chance to have fun.
• Social health: I admittedly do lots of my training solo, but fun runs, races, and trail work all bring friendly and like-minded, nature-loving people together to enjoy time together outside.
• Physical health: The exercise, of course. But forest bathing research suggests there may be a host of other benefits that come from the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from plants.

And it’s not just me. Nearly all hikers and trail runners expound the virtues of time in nature.

Time on the trails gives us all so much.

That’s why most of us want to support these places, and protect these places.

We know it’s important for us, now, and for all the wildlife and future generations to come.

Spending large amounts of time in these wild spaces allows us to collect data as citizen scientists over geographical areas not seldom studied over long time periods as daily and weekly trail adventures accumulate among the community.

Environmental Projects for Citizen Scientists

When it comes to environmental science, there are a few go-to platforms to contribute as a citizen scientist. Some of our favorites include:

• Plant and wildlife biodiversity: iNaturalist
• Birdsong and bird concentration: Merlin Bird ID
• Bird migration: Birdweather
• Open space air quality: Canary Upcycled
• Light pollution: Globe at Night
• Space: Exoplanet Watch
• Urban air pollution: PurpleAir
• Ecosystem change: Chronolog

There are others, still, that monitor, count, and track a variety of plant and wildlife species, and their communities continue to grow globally to improve our understanding and promote environmental stewardship.

Join one of these projects today, and become a citizen scientist and help protect the planet you love!