060: How to Make a Difference as a Citizen Scientist With Dr. Caren Cooper
Ever Better Today
English - March 17, 2017 07:00 - 39 minutes - 36.7 MB - ★★★★★ - 65 ratingsCareers Business Entrepreneurship Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Dr. Caren Cooper is passionate about involving people in the scientific process as citizen scientist. Growing up, she wanted to study wildlife and the environment. Her interests led her to earn a Ph.D., to fieldwork in Australia, and to a position at Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology. She is currently Associate Professor of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University as well as Assistant Head, Biodiversity Research Lab, NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
During our discussion, Caren shares how residents of Flint, MI acted to have their water tested and their voices heard, and how Cape Cod residents took action when they noticed higher than normal breast cancer rates.
Caren's recently released book, Citizen Science: How Ordinary People are Changing the Face of Discovery, details the history, process, and importance of how all people can work in conjunction with scientists, to gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. Caren says that “Citizen Science advances new knowledge that wouldn’t be possible without collaboration between scientists & the public.”
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Key Takeaways:
[3:25] Caren wanted to write a book about citizen science after discovering the research was undervalued and understated.
[7:49] What is a Citizen Scientist?
[10:46] The Flint Michigan Water Crisis is a great example of citizen science can help solve an environmental issue.
[13:21] As far back as the 1700’s, people have been collecting scientific data, including Thomas Jefferson.
[20:10] Participants do not need to know how to write for a scientific publication to contribute.
[26:09] The Cape Cod, Breast Cancer, Silent Spring connection. [31:36] Caren’s thoughts on eliminating the EPA and other aspects of the Trump administration.
[35:19] Resources to help listeners connect to the Citizen Science community.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Citizen Science: How Ordinary People are Changing the Face of Discovery, by Caren Cooper
Silent Spring Institute Earthwatch
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