Anyone can participate in science!
Participatory science is a collaboration between scientists and public volunteers to gather new knowledge about the world. Participatory science includes community science, citizen science, community-based monitoring and other types of research that depend on knowledge, insights or observations from the public.
Participatory science can transform communities, advance research and help people across the globe. For example, over the last 10 years, 31,000 volunteers have classified 350,000 images of space! You don't have to be an expert to get involved in a project. With a wide variety of topics to choose from, there’s something for all ages. You can also join in as frequently as you're able.
Explore the Latest Participatory Science Opportunity — Virginia Tick Survey
Imagine you have just returned home from being outside and you notice a small black or brown dot moving on your leg! Or worse, run your hand through your hair and feel a bump! It might be a tick.
In Virginia, ticks have become more common for a variety of reasons, including the growth of suburban areas, an abundance of deer in suburban forests and climate change. Some ticks, like the Blacklegged Tick (also called a deer tick), are most active in spring and summer, but pose a risk all year.
Because tick bites can cause serious illness, it's important to be prepared. If you’re exploring grassy, brushy or wooded areas, tuck your pants leg into your socks. This forces a tick that has climbed on your shoe to climb up the outside of your clothing, making it easier to spot and remove. You can also apply EPA-registered insect repellents, like DEET, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, making sure to follow all instructions on the product label. You can also use “permethrin,” an insect repellent treatment for your clothes, applied a few days ahead. Always check your entire body and clothes after spending time in tick habitats. Check out the Virginia Department of Health’s tick prevention webpage to learn more about prevention and removal!
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) runs the Virginia Tick Survey, a project aimed at better understanding which tick species are biting humans, and pets, in different regions of the state. If you find a tick on yourself, remove the tick safely with tweezers and save the tick in a small bag or container with rubbing alcohol to kill and save the tick. Fill out the quick ‘Tick Survey’ with some important details and then either upload a photo or mail in your tick for identification. While VDH does not test the ticks for disease, they will provide an identification of the tick species to you and include the tick on their interactive Virginia Citizen Tick Survey map. This identification information can help you or your healthcare provider narrow down diagnoses in the event you get sick. If you think you may be sick from a tick bite, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible after you start to feel sick.
Ongoing Participatory Science Opportunities
There’s no shortage of discoveries left to be made. Visit scistarter.org, zooniverse.org and citizenscience.gov to check out dozens of other participatory science opportunities. There’s something for everyone!
Participatory Science at the Science Museum
The Science Museum’s 2017 project Throwing Shade mobilized volunteers and partners from around Richmond to evaluate urban heat vulnerability. Data collected helped show that temperatures in the city during a heat wave can vary as much as 16 °F from the coolest to the warmest places.
From 2019 through 2023, volunteers helped the Science Museum collect data about hyperlocal air quality as part of RVAir. Funded in part by the Institute of the Museum and Library Services, RVAir worked with community collaborators to help measure particulate matter in Richmond neighborhoods.
Using portable AirBeam devices, community members collected air quality data on over 600 walks throughout the Richmond area. Additionally, over 35 permanent Purple Air sensors were installed across the city and are continuing to collect air quality in real time.