Biology
Life is everywhere, so biology needs observers everywhere. Volunteers map where species live, track how populations change and even solve molecular puzzles that stump computers.
Why volunteers matter here
Coverage no lab can match
Millions of dated, located records show how ranges shift with climate and land use.
Human intuition for 3D puzzles
Foldit and Eyewire showed people can out-think algorithms on protein shapes and neural wiring.
Long records
Counts that have run for decades, like the Christmas Bird Count, reveal slow declines that short studies miss.
What you need
- A phone camera and the iNaturalist or eBird app.
- A field guide or the free Merlin and Seek apps for identification.
- Binoculars for birds; a hand lens for insects and plants.
- For games like Foldit and Eyewire, just a computer.
Projects to join
Time