Our research team recently published a study highlighting how partnerships between SciStarter and facilitator organizations like the Girl Scouts of the USA provide a supportive context for extending learning and action associated with participation in citizen science. One of the most inspiring findings of this study was that the vast majority of girls participating in the program (81%) took local action on topics related to science and the environment. Although citizen science has occasionally been known to inspire environmental or civic action among participants, this type of impact is often elusive to citizen science project managers.
As part of the “Think Like a Citizen Scientist” Journey, girls completed Take Action Projects in their community. These projects took many shapes, including a group of “Junior” girl scouts (grades 4-5) sharing tips for minimizing light pollution with their local home-owners association and community center, a multi-age troop working with their parks commissioner ...
