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The Power of Citizen Science
Citizen science enables participants to make a direct contribution to research, increase their scientific understanding, and immerse themselves deeply afield in learning about environmental issues. These opportunities provide personally transformative experiences. Additionally, citizen science volunteers can help researchers to maximize the amount of data collected on a project, enabling them to achieve broader impacts with their science (e.g., education, local community engagement and support).
Earthwatch is a world leader in supporting team-based, researcher-facilitated citizen science. Since 1971, we have supported research projects that produce rigorous, relevant, and impactful science, address global change, and actively involve citizen-scientist participants. In designing their research, prospective Earthwatch-supported PIs must consider citizen-scientist participant involvement a priority. Earthwatch participants (aka, volunteers) must meaningfully contribute to research by collecting field data under the direct supervision of scientists and their professional field technicians.
Participants do not need previous research experience or skills. Earthwatch staff prepare participants for the field using materials developed by the PI and our organization.
PIs and their staff are responsible for training participants upon arrival to the field.
Earthwatch Citizen-Science Participants
Individuals
We recruit participants through our website, our Field Research Expedition Guide, and outreach campaigns. Participants primarily come from North America and Europe and are enthusiastic about science. PIs can set physical fitness requirements. Participant per-capita payment funds the project.
Professionals
Earthwatch partners with nonprofits and corporations to create opportunities for staff professional development. Professionals may field through their employer on a team as an individual or as a team entirely composed of professionals. Facilitators support teams of professionals.
Groups
Earthwatch also recruits special-interest groups to participate on select research projects. This may include groups from zoos, university alumni or a high school class (with teacher chaperones).
Teens
Earthwatch recruits teens (ages 15-18) to participate on select research projects. With researcher approval, teens can field with a guardian, or in a facilitator-supported team, entirely composed of teenagers.
Community Fellow
Earthwatch fields Community Fellows, defined as persons (ages teen through elders) who are members of the community in which a project takes place. These individuals can be impactful community leaders, students from the local university or high school, and/or members of Indigenous or other underserved communities. The purpose of Community Fellows programs is to empower community members.
*Earthwatch works with Principal Investigators (PIs) to determine their project’s goodness-of-fit for teens, groups, and/or professionals.
Experience hands-on science in some of the most astounding locations in the world.
Meet a community of like-minded travelers and return home with stories filled with adventure.
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
Earthwatch depends on donations—above and beyond what we raise from volunteers who participate on our expeditions—in order to deliver our global conservation mission. In fact, volunteer contributions provide only half of the total resources Earthwatch needs to sustain over 40 field research expeditions, a wide variety of educational programs, corporate sustainability trainings, and more each year.