Poster on Best Practices for Engaging Communities in Citizen Science

Graduate student Jen Metes recently presented early insights from her work on the COASST project in a poster at the National Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE).

Best Practices for Engaging Communities in Citizen Science: Recruitment & Retention in COASST

Jennifer Metes, Heidi Ballard & Julia Parrish

Coastal Observation & Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a citizen science project through which participants collect beached bird data that is shared with resource management agencies. We examined why COASST volunteers first became engaged in the project and what motivates them to continue their involvement in it. Using COASST as a “model” citizen science program, we identify fundamental features of the program that may be translated into other citizen science projects.