It often starts with something small, such as a new bird in a branch, a vibrant butterfly in a yard, a colorful plant growing through a crack in the sidewalk or as part of a lawn.
Suddenly, you are engaged and can’t help but snap a photo with your smartphone to satisfy that curiosity to learn the species’ name, where it comes from and more.
What follows is something bigger: a discovery and a need for a deeper understanding of nature just outside the front door.
During Citizen Science Month, researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are highlighting a shift in how scientists think about public participation in research and how people experience nature, benefiting them in ways they never realized.
“Citizen science is no longer just about collecting data. It is a learning pathway that is transforming how people learn to see the natural world,” said Corey Callaghan, assistant professor of global ecology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. “We’re helping people move from being passive observers to active contributors by building the skills and confidence to engage with biodiversity in a meaningful way.”
That shift from casual observation to informed curiosity is at the heart of a series of Ask IFAS Extension publications designed to teach people how to “see like an ecologist.” The resources guide participants in identifying plants and animals, capturing high-quality images for scientific use and understanding what makes an observation valuable to researchers.
“When you make an observation, you’re not just submitting data — you’re learning in real time,” said Brittany Mason, a data management analyst at the center. “You get immediate feedback, you see what others are finding, and over time, you start to recognize patterns — seasonal changes, species distributions, even environmental shifts.”
Citizen science websites like iNaturalist and eBird play a key role in that process. They turn everyday moments, including walks on a hiking trail, visits to a park and time spent outdoors into interactive learning experiences. Users not only document what they see, but they also gain insight into where species occur, when they appear and how ecosystems change over time.
People stay engaged at least partially because they submit photos and get feedback.
“What we see is that people often start because they want to help,” Mason said. “But they stay because they’re learning. It becomes exciting to discover something new or even rare, and that curiosity builds over time.”
For scientists, that growing curiosity translates into something equally valuable, which amounts to data at a scale that would otherwise be impossible to collect.
A recent study involving Callaghan and his collaborators highlights how large, crowd-sourced biodiversity sets of data are expanding the scope of ecological research, allowing scientists to track changes across regions and timeframes that exceed traditional field studies.
“Professional scientists simply can’t be everywhere at once,” Callaghan said. “But when thousands of people contribute small observations, it creates a powerful, large-scale picture of biodiversity.”
That collective effort is increasingly important as researchers work to understand rapid environmental change, from shifting species ranges to the spread of invasive organisms. Meanwhile, the impact of citizen science may be just as significant for participants as it is for science itself, said Callaghan.
“As people learn to identify species and recognize patterns in nature, they also begin to notice changes such as declines in familiar wildlife, the arrival of new species or shifts tied to climate and habitat,” Mason said. “That awareness is what leads to stewardship. When people understand what’s happening in their local environment, they’re more likely to care about it and take action.”
Opportunities to get involved go beyond mobile apps. Residents can explore volunteer programs through your UF/IFAS Extension office, local, state and federal agencies or participate in community-based projects focused on water quality, wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration. The website Project Finder – SciStarter is another avenue.
“You don’t need special training or a big-time commitment,” Callaghan said. “It can begin with a single observation — just noticing something and asking questions about it.”
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By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS
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