Citizen Science Certification San Juan Bay Estuary Program Citizen - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Citizen Science Certification

San Juan Bay Estuary Program

Citizen Science

“Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research – whether community-driven research or global

• investigations. Citizen science mobilizes the public to

participate in the scientific process to address problems.”

• EPA 2016

Program Timeline

Wo Work

The SJ BEP carries out monthly water quality monitoring and bird counts with volunteers. Citizen participation and involvement are key to accomplish our mission.

Idea ea

We give volunteers the

• pportunity to gain a

certification for their work, which helps their professional development and open doors to jobs in the environmental field.

Par artner ership

The academic sector has contributed to our plan. The University of Puerto Rico offered an environmental sciences seminar as a platform to provide the first sessions

• f Estuario’s Citizen

Science Certification.

Dev evel elopmen ent

Formal curriculums are developed to formalize the Citizen Science Certification Program. It contains two modules, which we’ll expand next fiscal year.

Objectives

• Use citizen science to address

environmental, educational and community needs of the estuary.

• Increase scientific literacy and

environmental awareness of the Program’s volunteers.

• Create and maintain a body of

scientific volunteers to assist in the Estuary's research, monitoring, reforestation and education projects.

Citizen Science Certification Modules

Water Quality Monitoring Participatory Bird Censuses

Water Quality Monitoring

• Helps determine the

physical-chemical status of the estuarine ecosystems and effectivity of water quality improvement actions.

• Monthly monitoring in 25

sites across the watershed.

• 97 citizens currently

participating.

• First cohorts of Citizen

Scientists are undergraduate from the University of Puerto Rico

Participatory Bird Census

• Provides valuable information for

the development of conservation and restoration of high ecological value regions

• Monitoring 20 sites across the

watershed.

• 71 citizens currently participating.
• Participatory Bird Censuses and

Christmas Bird counts.

• Collaboration with Audubon

Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Microplastics Monitoring Module

Other Citizen Science Initiatives

• Guardians of the Estuary School Program
• Citizen Science with Boy Scouts of America
• National Association for Interpretation- Certified

Interpretive Guide for Community Groups and Citizen Scientists

• Professional Teacher Workshop Series