It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Cuddle up with these five projects–and one book–that we love!
They are waiting for you with open arms.
Xoxo,
SciStarter and Science Connected
Health eHeart
You’re probably science-savvy enough to know that the seat of love is in the brain, not the heart. But do you really want to send a romantic card that says “I (brain) you!” We thought not.
So follow your heart to the Health eHeart (get it?) project, where you and your SO can share data that will help scientists reduce heart disease.
Location: Global
Great Backyard Bird Count
It was Chaucer, inspired by birds, who first put romance into Valentine’s Day:
For this was on seynt Valentynes day
When every foul comyth there to chese his make.
Despite his abominable spelling, Chaucer’s poultry poetry led to Valentine’s Day becoming the day of love. So it’s only fitting that the Great Backyard Bird Count, or GBBC as the cool kids call it, happens Valentine’s Day weekend. Don’t miss it!
Location: Global
Bumble Bee Watch
Like fuzzy Cupids, bees flit about flowers and play matchmaker, uniting lovelorn, root-bound plants with their distant soulmates. By signing up for Bumble Bee Watch, you can practice positive voyeurism by patiently watching for bees’ floral liaisons and capturing them with your digital camera.
Location: North America
Journey North
Presenting your significant other with a showy collection of plants’ mating structures might be the least subtle way to say “I love you,” but it certainly is popular!
This Valentine’s Day, why not pair your bouquet with an invitation to join Journey North? Together, you’ll sally forth into the great outdoors to find emerging blossoms to help track changes in nature, and, just maybe, true love.
Location: Global
Dark Sky Program
Frustrated lovers all over the world are unable to enjoy a romantic evening under the twinkling stars of the Milky Way because of the glare of light pollution. It’s a problem not only for people, but for wildlife and plants, too! Join the Dark Sky Program to track this scourge with your cell phone.
Location: Global
The Field Guide to Citizen Science
Our new book is out! The Field Guide to Citizen Science: How You Can Contribute to Scientific Research and Make a Difference is now available in bookstores and online!
We’re thrilled to see such positive reviews. Most importantly, we hope you enjoy it. We poured our hearts into it. (Last Valentine’s pun!) Read a review of the book here.
You can order the book today.
Year in Citizen Science: February Calendar
Check out SciStarter’s online and printable monthly calendar of events and holidays linked to relevant citizen science projects.
Citizen Science for Your Ears
In our new podcast episode, we spotlight the citizen science campus at North Carolina State University. Listen today!
Looking for more science stories? Check out Science Connected. As always, you can find citizen science on the SciStarter blog and over 3,000 different citizen science projects and events on SciStarter.
About the Author
Bob Hirshon heads up Springtail Media, specializing in science media and digital entertainment. He is PI for the NSF-supported National Park Science Challenge, an augmented reality adventure that takes place in National Parks. Hirshon headed up the Kinetic City family of science projects, including the Peabody Award winning children’s radio drama Kinetic City Super Crew, McGraw-Hill book series and Codie Award winning website and education program. Hirshon can be heard on XM/Sirius Radio’s Kids Place Live as “Bob the Science Slob,” sharing science news and answering children’s questions.
