We’ve got data!
Emily Stuller, Instructor & Citizen Science Data Coordinator
At MarineLab, not only do our students learn from scientists but they also get to be one themselves! Through hands-on data collection, MarineLab students have the opportunity to participate in citizen science.
Our citizen science programs not only teach students data collection and analysis skills, but they also gather critical data for various global databases used by scientists, teachers, students, and universities. In addition, all data collected at MarineLab is entered into our in-house databases. Some of our databases house over 10 years’ worth of data!
One of the primary purposes of the MarineLab database is for teachers to be able to utilize the information back in the classroom, whether in science class, statistics, or other subjects. By using the data collected during their trip, not numbers coming from a textbook or outside source, students are able to see the effect of citizen science first-hand. The fact that they have a personal connection to that data helps prompt passion in wanting to further analyze and understand the story behind the science.
At MarineLab we offer a variety of citizen science programs. From seagrass surveys to monitoring harmful algal blooms, we have an extensive list of citizen science options.
A teacher uses a refractometer during our 2022 teacher workshop as part of our water quality lab.
This program incorporates both lab and field-based data collection. Students get hands-on experience measuring water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen, pH, and salinity, but the data collected also gives us a better understanding of how the waters in which we are snorkeling are changing over time. All data is entered into a global database as well as our own Marinelab database which goes back to 2010!
As mentioned in a previous blog post, this lab is quite impactful. Students see firsthand the pollutants we are finding in the waters they snorkel that may not have been visible when in the water. Students collect samples on their boat trips and analyze these samples in the evening. As someone who has worked in the field of microplastic research, I can validate that the methods students go through in terms of collection, processing, and analysis mimic actual data collection strategies being done at high research levels. The numbers go into a database with the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project.
Students use an id sheet to help them identify microplastics found in the water that they collected during their reef snorkel earlier in the day.
When you think of data you may just think of lots of numbers, but it doesn’t stay that way. When analyzed, those numbers can then be turned into figures, charts, graphs, and other statistics. These can then be translated into situational snapshots of what is occurring in the habitats around us, piecing together stories about our environment over time. These stories can be brought to the attention of policymakers and lawmakers to enact change that benefits our ecosystems. When utilized correctly, data has the power to do so much more than just sit in an excel sheet!
Teaching our students the power of data is a great way to show the impact that they can have. It doesn’t take a PhD to become a scientist, just the willingness to participate and the curiosity to seek change.
ALL data in these databases is available to ALL MarineLab teachers. If you are interested in gaining access to any of our in-house databases please contact our Citizen Science Coordinator, Emily Stuller, at Emily.Stuller@marinelab.org .