Citizen Science

The University of Arizona invites you to become an active participant in the following science research and outreach efforts.

• RainLog/RainMapper
  RainLog is a network of over 1,000 volunteers that use backyard rain gauges to monitor precipitation across Arizona and in neighboring states. Data collected are used for research, watershed management activities, drought monitoring, and educational programs at local, county, and state levels. RainMapper is a free service that sends email notices to subscribers about recent precipitation amounts in their neighborhoods.
  
  
• National Phenology Network
  Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how they are influenced by seasonal and other variations in climate. Examples include the timing of leafing and flowering, insect emergence, and animal migration. The National Phenology Network seeks volunteers to be part of a massive observing campaign to monitor these environmental events in their localities.
  
  
• Master Watershed Stewards
  This program educates and trains citizens across the state of Arizona to serve as volunteers in the protection, restoration, monitoring, and conservation of their water and watersheds.
  
  
• “House Energy” Doctor Program
  UA architecture students will come to your home or office to perform a comprehensive energy audit for your building and provide specific information on how to decrease your energy use.
  
  
• Citizen Scientists Studying Evapotranspiration
  A collaboration between Biosphere 2 and researchers in the School of Natural Resources and UA Computer Science is developing information technology and methods to bring ongoing, cutting-edge science experiments into K-12 classrooms. The goal is to provide a direct conduit between scientists and the classroom to simultaneously enhance science education and enable experimental studies on a large scale."
  
  
• Dubbo Central School Virtual Citizen Scientists
  
  
• What on Earth? Mapping Rainforest Plants
  Imagine you are a tropical biologist conducting a survey of the plants that are still alive in the rainforest—we actually have a biologist doing this right now! One way to figure out which species you are looking at is to compare its location to the original plant maps. Click title to learn more.