Citizen Science- Nature's Notebook

      The user experience of Nature's Notebook is incredibly straightforward and simple to use. This project is advertised or mentioned on several webpages that give citizen science project suggestions. Also, Nature's Notebook comes up easily in a "conservation citizen science" Google search. I was able to find this project through a third party website suggestion. Once you are on the Nature's Notebook website, it is easy to locate the Citizen Science project. Citizen scientists simply have to create an account with iNaturalist and then they can login to their Nature's Notebook "Observation Deck" and begin exploring. Overall, the process is very simple and does not need to be improved in any way.        I do think that this project has a positive effect on conservation. As I mentioned in my last blog post, the data collected from this program has been used in numerous academic journals. Additionally, this data has been used to guide policy change

      When collecting data, citizen scientists have the option of using one of Nature Notebook's observation sheets and entering their data on the website or on the mobile app. Using the observation sheet is optional, but I have found it very useful because it helps to specify what one should look for in their observations. The data that is collected is  submitted to the USA National Phenology Network (USANPN). As mentioned in my first blog post, USANPN runs the Nature's Notebook program. According to their website, the citizen science data is used by researchers, natural resource managers, and others who are interested in conservation in order to make informed decisions and to further scientific discovery (2018). Nature's Notebook is relatively vague in what they use their citizen science observations for, so it is hard to say whether or not they are losing any opportunities with the data they are collecting. However, if it is not already being used for these things, th

        Nature's Notebook is a citizen science project conducted by the USA National Phenology Network (USANPN). This project exists so that researchers and scientists are better able to predict threats to humans and the environment (Nature's Notebook, 2018). Threats may include wildfires, droughts, or flooding. Being knowledgable of these processes helps people decide the timing of certain events such as irrigating land and holding controlled burns (Nature's Notebook, 2018). Additionally, the USANPN uses the information from its citizen science observations in order to inform policy change  (Nature's Notebook, 2018)     As part of my role as a citizen scientist, I will be making observations of different plant and animal species in my area and reporting them back to Nature's Notebook. Currently, USANPN is especially interested in gathering observations of dogwoods, maples, poplars, invasive shrubs, and nectar plants. Fortunately, living in Central Virginia giv

As my end of semester project, I have compiled all of the work I have done this semester into one ArcGIS Story Map. My story map can be found by following this link:  Story Map

For my final portfolio, I plan to assemble all of my assignments thus far into one comprehensive document. Since I already have a Portfolium account for another class, I will likely upload my comprehensive document to that platform and also to the Canvas Portfolio. My personal goal for this portfolio is to spread awareness about threats to the Swift Creek Reservoir. My timeline for the remainder of the semester is as follows: By December 3rd - Research how to compile all of the Google Slides presentations into one comprehensive document By December 10th - Create comprehensive document of all presentations from this semester By December 11th - Upload comprehensive document to Portfolium and Canvas

English Ivy is a common invasive species. It is present in 28 states, including Hawaii. It can adapt to nearly any habitat and, once introduced, takes over the entire area. Click  here  to view my presentation on English Ivy and its role as an invasive species.