Connecting Citizen Scientists to Watersheds: A Conversation with Kim Hachadoorian

By Russ Campbell Brandywine Creek, which runs through southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, once powered the mills that supported European settlements in the late 17^th and 18^th centuries. Today, people rely on the creek for recreation and as a source of drinking water. SciStarter contributor Russ Campbell recently spoke to Kim Hachadoorian, The Nature Conservancy Delaware's project manager for Stream Stewards, a citizen science project that seeks to preserve this natural resource.What does Citizen Science mean to you? To me, citizen science is the democratization of science. It’s a way of making science accessible by engaging people in the scientific process. It helps them feel empowered to take part in research and advocacy that leads to conservation of natural resources. That’s the kind of citizen scientist that I interact with in my Stream Stewards program.