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Citizen Science

Photo: Sarah Gage

Here are some of the opportunities available in Washington State for people to participate in biodiversity-oriented scientific activities.

Audubon Washington

Audubon Washington enlists citizen scientists of all ages to discover and document the wonders of the natural world.

Citizen Science at the Seattle Aquarium

This is a science education program designed to collect long-term, scientifically significant data on the nearshore habitat and wildlife of seven Seattle area marine reserves and Seahurst Park in Burien. This project is designed to bridge the gap between the need for habitat protection and public involvement in wildlife management.

Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST)

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) involves coastal communities in monitoring local marine resources and ecosystem health through the establishment of a network of citizen scientists, each collecting rigorous and vital data. COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all levels in counting birds and reporting their results to create a mid-winter snapshot of the numbers, kinds, and distribution of birds across the continent. After the count, scientists analyze the results and post summaries highlighting the year's trends and findings.

NatureMapping (University of Washington)

The NatureMapping Program’s vision is to create a national network that links natural resource agencies, academia, and land planners with local communities. Their goal is to keep common animals common and to maintain quality of life. Their approach is to train individuals to become aware of natural resources and to provide the tools to inventory and monitor them.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center offers opportunities in eelgrass monitoring, a survey on the impacts of seaweed harvesting, shellfish safety monitoring, and others. The Center is an educational and scientific organization devoted to understanding and conserving our marine and shoreline environment.

Washington Native Plant Society Noxious Weed Project

The Washington Native Plant Society is encouraging interested participants to help improve scientific documentation of invasive plants in Washington through herbarium collections. Specimens will be preserved for generations to come at the University of Washington and Washington State University.

Washington NatureMapping Program

This is a joint outreach program developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the University of Washington Gap Analysis Project to promote biodiversity studies through citizens and school-based data collection and research. The objective is to empower citizens to plan and manage resources for a community within a watershed.

Washington Rare Plant Care & Conservation Program (Rare Care)

The Washington Rare Plant Care & Conservation Program (Rare Care) at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture has established the first plant conservation program focused exclusively on vascular plants designated as rare in Washington State.

The program invites volunteers to help conserve Washington’s native plants and at the same time learn about some of the rarest plants in the state. Rare Care has volunteer positions all around the state to suit people with a wide range of interests and botanical knowledge.