The Awesome Power of Citizen Science

Hosted by: Hank Green
----------
----------
Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters -- we couldn't make SciShow without them! Shout out to Justin Ove, Coda Buchanan, Lucy McGlasson, Accalia Elementia, Mark Terrio-Cameron, Saul, Kathy & Tim Philip, Kevin Bealer, Christopher Collins, Thomas J., charles george, Andreas Heydeck, Patrick D. Ashmore, Justin Lentz, Will and Sonja Marple, Ed Shelley, Chris Peters, Tim Curwick, Philippe von Bergen, Fatima Iqbal.
----------
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
----------
Sources:

History of Citizen Science

Ecology

EteRNA

Images:

[EugeneKhutoryansky]

Citizen scientists can actually be more productive than professional scientists, as they don't have to worry about "publish or perish", and hence they can devote more energy to topics that aren't trivial. Albert Einstein was just a patent clerk when he developed the Special Theory of Relativity in his free time.

[viennajordan]

I helped count grass for the Ecology Project in Yellowstone

[seashell]

I sign up for several study for my cancer treatments. Especially, a study to prevent CDiff. I told my family that when I die I want to become a cadaver to help med students. True story.

[coolmdj]

Okay I'm just gonna say this now.. Hank, since I've found your channel, this video is probably one of the best ones (if not the best) you've put up till now. This video is truly inspiring and I'm going to share it with lots of people that I want to encourage towards the sciences. You've captured a lot about ethics and how humanity should work together to help prolong its own future for the better. The interests & ideals of an individual don't matter if their energy or resources can be added into working towards science as a unit. You've convinced me now to even sign up as a Patron after this episode... Keep doing what you do!

[sugarfrosted]

Not gonna lie using phrases like "these data" rather than "this data" to reflect that data is used as a collective noun is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

[Wingedshadowwolf]

The university near where I live has a citizen bat patrol. You sign up and if they have openings in your area they give you a bat-radar thing to put on your car and you drive around at dusk looking for and recording bat calls! I haven't done it, but I'm considering it.

[davidriveragoveo]

aye arecibo! grew up in Puerto Rico and I've actually visited that science center where the telescope is, it's MASSIVE

[machiel]

Anyone who is struggling to finish an end of the year presentation for school should analyze the structure of scishow videos. It can be very useful

[suchitrasridhar]

Using this video for the Environmental Club I have started. Very grateful to have such brilliant resources to refer to as a novice teacher. Thank you!

[braindeadgenius]

EVE Online has Project Discovery, a minigame linked to real life research centers where the object is to identify cellular structures. Computers have a really tough time and a terrible track record. We, as the players, are not only sifting through and cataloguing data, but TEACHING the A.I. how to do what we do :D

[lifeswonderable]

There's another great video game for citizen science is called EyeWire, where people help researchers at Princeton University map the structure of retinal neurons in mice. All you need is an internet connection and a knack for finding missing pieces of a puzzle. :) I've been a part of this project for 3 years now and that community is growing as well.

[lunealexandre]

Citizen Science sounds awesome! I want to become a Citizen scientist!

[stellarfirefly]

I'm surprised one of the very latest game-ified citizen science efforts was not mentioned, namely Project Discovery within the game EVE Online.

[DJJR]

I love this message. Thanks! Favorited, liked, subscribed!

[deathsythelui]

I am (sorta) upset that amateur astronomy wasn't mentioned in this episode. If someone with a telescope finds something in the sky that wasn't found before, be it an asteroid or comet or planet or star or anything, they get official credit by the IAU for their discovery. That should count for this episode, eh?

[R-MD]

Citizen scientists, not to be confused with self proclaimed experts, especially on the topic of health. Eg: food babe.

[TheOtterOutdoorsman]

Then there are people like me, who aren't currently able to go for a higher degree or land a science job, but still practice/research it in our free time.

[Coco]

Hank, your shirt has H2O bonds. That's amazing. I love it.

[nikkibishop]

Most entomologists would be classed as 'amateur' but have an incredible knowledge of their chosen taxon. They also have to collaborate a fair bit, because one person cannot be a specialist in more than a few orders.

[paullemus]

+SciShow +GamesWithHank
EyeWire is a neuronal mapping game used for connectome research (Sebastian Seung). You guys have talked about the connectome before, so I think it'd be awesome if you guys added it to the description! Seriously, this game lets you make 3D models of neurons and their connections from 2D slides. Please do add it for everyone to enjoy.
PS. Hank. uh, science AND games! This was meant for your other channel (EyeWire, FoldIt, EteRNA)!