Citizen Science Initiative
A citizen scientist is an individual who voluntarily contributes his or her time, effort, and resources toward scientific research. Citizen science programs can provide quality education and outreach opportunities for the public and strengthen the BLM's relationship with its partners. The BLM already uses citizen science in a variety of program areas; examples include the Archaeology Site Stewards and Paleontology Program in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, and the Coastal Wildlife Disturbance Project in California.
As use and acceptance of citizen science in the federal community grows, there are ample opportunities for the BLM to make wider use of this approach. The BLM is currently working on a citizen science pilot program to strengthen scientific engagement with the public and instill citizen science as standard practice across the BLM.
For more information about citizen science, the Federal Community of Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science (FCPCCS) and the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) have created a toolkit at https://crowdsourcing-toolkit.sites.usa.gov/ that provides steps to plan, design and implement citizen science projects.
Featured Video
BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and Boise-area birders head out on a raptor research expedition. The group visited nesting areas within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in southwest Idaho.