Program participant holding a tagged monarch butterfly at Hannen Lake Park



By Faith Hunt, Naturalist

A community scientist is someone who contributes to scientific
research. Community scientists are people who have a little bit of
time and interest in contributing to local and national data about the
world around them! You don’t need advanced degrees or years of
experience, just a passion for science, a willingness to help with
research, and an eagerness to volunteer your time. We participate in
a few community science projects every year – Monarch Watch
(catching and tagging migrating monarchs), Monarch Health (testing
monarchs for parasites) and Iowa DNR Frog and Toad surveys
(gathering data on amphibian populations). Not only are these
activities enjoyable and informative, but by continually collecting
data from similar locations year after year, we can start comparing
and finding trends in our area that can help contribute to the bigger
picture.

Due to limited resources and staff to gather data, community scientists play an important role in helping
better understand our world. They help collect and monitor data on various topics such as water quality,
frogs and toads, weather, insects, plants, and so much more by allowing scientists to work with more diverse
information for their studies. Researchers can’t be everywhere all the time and don’t know your community
as well as you!


To become a community scientist, start by deciding what interests you most, then find a project that
matches! A quick online search will reveal numerous opportunities. Scientists are looking for help on a wide
range of topics, from monitoring birds, bees and trees! Find one that best suits your interest and run with it!
Once you find a project that piques your interest, check the guidelines to see how to get started. Some may
require registration or specific training, while others let you jump right into collecting and submitting data.
Make sure you pick a project that is achievable for you – both for time and abilities. You may be surprised at
all the new things you will learn! While performing your community science research, always double-check
your data to ensure it’s correct, as false information won’t be helpful. Accuracy is key!

Most importantly, enjoy the experience! You’ll not only help with valuable
research but also learn along the way. There are so many exciting community
science projects to be a part of. In Iowa you can volunteer with the Iowa
DNR to participate in frog and toad surveys, monitor bird nests, or help with
bat acoustic surveys and more.

To learn more and get involved, visit
https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Iowas-Wildlife/Volunteer-WildlifeMonitoring.

If you are interested in insects, check out Xerces Society and
their programs:
https://www.xerces.org/community-science.

There are
endless community science opportunities and there is a project out there for
everyone!

Find us online at www.bentoncountyia.gov/conservation/ or 

www.mycountyparks.com

Find us on Facebook: @bentoncountyparks

To donate visit https://www.bentoncountyia.gov/conservation/donate/