Citizen Science Projects
Citizen Science Projects with the KU Natural History Museum
2022 Note: This project is currently paused.
Help us document the biodiversity all around us by doing some citizen science! In the past we've used iNaturalist so everyone can participate in these projects. iNaturalist is a free online observation platform where people record biodiversity observations, interact with other enthusiasts, and learn about organisms. Observations from you uploaded to iNaturalist can also contribute to biodiversity science by being shared with open science projects such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL). Scientists can freely access and use these data to address their research questions. Learn more about how scientists use iNaturalist data. Have questions about these projects? Email Eleanor Gardner, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator eleanor.garder@ku.edu for the KU Natural History Museum.
Using the iNaturalist app for Citizen Science
It's easy to join iNaturalist projects when they're live by using the iNaturalist Phone App. You can also click the links below to explore our past projects and what people found across different areas.
Check out our video 'How To Use the iNaturalist Smartphone App' video with KU Ecology and Evolutionary Biology student and KU Biodiversity student researcher, Rene Martin. She'll show you how to download the easy-to-use app, make your profile, and start making citizen science observations!
Past Projects
Click on each project link to explore what citizen scientists found.
Autumn BotanyBlitz, Fall 2021
The KU Natural History Museum's fall 2021 iNaturalist project was an "autumn botanyblitz" documenting plant species from September 1 to November 30. Citizen scientists helped us document changes among plants in Douglas County during autumn!
Kansas BioBlitz!, Spring 2021
To celebrate spring in 2021, the KU Natural History Museum held a state-wide iNaturalist project across Kansas, from April 1 to June 20! We invited participants to become citizen scientists and help us document the diversity of plants and animals in Kansas!
Bird BioBlitz, early Winter 2021
The KU Natural History Museum's Early Winter 2021 iNaturalist Bird Blitz project was a Bird Blitz documenting avian species from January through March. Thanks to all the citizen scientists who helped us document the diversity of birds in Douglas County!
Seasonal Species Variation, Fall 2020
Our Fall 2020 iNaturalist project was a bioblitz tracking seasonal species variation from October 1 through December 31.
BioBlitz - Autumnal Changes, September 2020
Explore the iNaturalist data from our September Autumnal Changes BioBlitz.
Nature's Builders BioBlitz, August 2020
Explore the data from our iNaturalist Nature's Builders BioBlitz of Douglas County, held in August 2020 to help document the architects found in the natural world.
Northeast Kansas Botanical Blitz, July 2020
We conducted an iNaturalist Northeast Kansas Botanical Blitz in July 2020, focused on plants across NE Kansas. Kansas counties in this project included: Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee & Wyandotte!
Kansas Biodiversity Blitz, June 2020
Explore the data from the June 2020 Douglas County, Kansas Biodiversity Blitz.