Science Cheerleader

The Missouri Stream Team program is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Through this program, an estimated 80,000 volunteer citizens have helped monitor the quality of Missouri’s water streams. And with recent reports showing (often high) levels of mercury in every stream the U.S. Geological Survey tested, we could use more volunteers out there on the front lines. The project leader, Chris Riggert, first told ScienceCheerleader.com readers why he got involved in this effort, here.

Yesterday, Chris emailed me a link to the team’s 20th anniversary video which fully encapsulates the passion and power of citizen scientists. (Thanks, Chris!)

Meet Chris Riggert, a Stream Team Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program Coordinator. He has the longest  job title at the Missouri Department of Conservation…and boy does he LOVE his job. He works closely with volunteers (citizen scientists) to monitor and preserve the rivers in MO.

At last count, 4,000 teams of Citizen Scientists, involving nearly 60,000 residents of MO, accomplished the following: 187 tons of trash were removed from Missouri streams; 11,973 trees were planted; and 6,000  volunteer specialists were trained and equipped to monitor water quality for the EPA. GOOOO Chris and your awesome Citizen Scientists! 

volunteers

He sent in this first-person account of what it’s like to work with Citizen Scientists and how he got hooked on rivers.  From Chris:

 ”I consider myself extremely fortunate because I wake up every morning and want to go to work.  I know that sounds crazy, but I have the “bestest” job in the world…at least I think so.

I have the responsibility of working with and training citizen scientists.  My job takes me all across Missouri and allows me to interact with some of the most interesting and passionate people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

But before I get into what I do, someone once told me that a good story should always start at the beginning.  So let me tell you first how I got here.   (more…)

In an effort to learn more about the fascinating and growing demography of folks known as Citizen Scientists, Michael and I created an online Citizen Science Survey.

Consider participating in the brief, online survey. The results will be shared with participating citizen science project directors and used to help Michael and I design an online resource tailored specifically for the needs of citizen scientists and the professional researchers involved in such projects.

Special thanks to Phil Edelstein, Terrie Miller , Forrest Mims III, and the good folks at the EPA’s Water Monitoring program!

Karen Laverty of PBS affiliate WGBH dropped me a line about a brand new NOVA show premiering on Tuesday 11/25 on PBS.

“Ocean Animal Emergency”  shows ocean mammals being rescued from the wild, tagged (see left; photo credit: Doug Hamilton) and released or cared for by the vets and wildlife volunteers (citizen scientists!) from the world-renowned Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA.

The volunteer citizen scientists at the Center racked up 81,000 hours last year and saved the Center an estimated $800,000! After they’re trained, they handle everything from cleaning pens to preparing food, updating medical charts, administering antibiotics and taking blood samples. 

“Like canaries in the coal mine,” Karen explains,  ”the marine mammal populations are a barometer for the health of the world’s oceans.”  

Here’s a colorful radio piece I did on a related topic: the Shad (aka: Philadelphia’s fish). Shad move from the ocean to the river to spawn, then return to the ocean. Shad fishermen are often the first to learn about the conditions of rivers. When there’s no shad to be had, pollution is the primary suspect.

If you’re interested in learning how to monitor the water in your area (including the source of your drinking water), the EPA has a national directory of volunteer water monitoring programs. Check it out!