Collaborative Science

Make a meaningful contribution to science at Duke Gardens and beyond.

Collaborative science (also called citizen science or community science) is when people who aren’t professional scientists help collect and analyze information used to answer research questions that can’t be studied without a large group of people. Here are some ways you can participate.

Become a Triangle Explorer through the Triangle Land Conservancy 

The Triangle Explorer Challenge is an opportunity to get kids outside and learning in fun and engaging ways through conducting science experiments, exploring nature, and creating works of art.

How to go on a Turtle Trek from Piedmont Wildlife Center

Learn how you can become part of PWC’s citizen science project, Triangle Turtle Trekkers!

NYBG Steere Herbarium digitazation

You can contribute to scientific research from anywhere by helping botanists interpret herbarium specimens.

SciStarter

SciStarter is the place to find, join, and contribute to science through providing people access to more than 2,700 searchable formal and informal research projects and events.

Zooniverse

The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.

Bumble Bee Watch

Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborative effort to track and conserve North America’s bumble bees.

EarthEcho Water Challenge

The EarthEcho Water Challenge builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local bodies of water.​

eBird

eBird data document bird distribution, abundance, habitat use and trends through checklist data collected within a simple scientific framework.

ecoEXPLORE

ecoEXPLORE, for children in grades K-8, combines science exploration with kid-friendly technology to foster a fun learning environment for children while encouraging them to explore the outdoors and participate in citizen science.

FoldIt

Foldit is a revolutionary crowdsourcing computer game enabling you to contribute to important scientific research by taking advantage of humans’ puzzle-solving intuitions and having people play competitively to fold the best proteins.

GLOBE Observer

Your observations help scientists track changes in clouds, water, plants and other life in support of climate research.

HerpMapper

HerpMapper gathers and shares information about reptile and amphibian observations across the planet.

iNaturalist

iNaturalist.org is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world.

ISeeChange

ISeeChange is dedicated to empowering communities to document and understand their environment, weather and climate in order to increase resilience.

Nature’s Notebook

Nature’s Notebook gathers information on plant and animal phenology across the U.S. to be used for decision-making on local, national and global scales to ensure the continued vitality of our environment.

Project BudBurst

This network of citizen scientists tracks changes in plant seasons to assist scientists studying climate.

Questions?

Please contact us at 919-668-1707 or GardensEducation@duke.edu.