App Tries To Create Citizen Scientists
A new iPhone app called Noah turns anyone with a cell phone, some legs and some time into a citizen scientist.
The app lets users update a map with mushrooms, animals, trees — any flora or fauna — so that scientists can see changes or mini surveys of an area without all the work. The project directs users on several missions to help scientific researchers in their job. Current missions include Project Squirrel, to find and catalogue squirrels; Mushroom Mapping, to see changes in spore ecosystems; the Lost Ladybug Project, to find and catalogue native ladybugs on the decline; and Butterflies and Moths of North America, a survey of local flying critters.
It is, of course, designed with iPhone users in mind. Just taking a glance at the feed, it doesn’t seem very scientific — I don’t think a Chihuahua in a tea cup needs scientific categorization. There are also lots of entries that feature a picture of an elm tree with “Oak?” in the categorization.
But despite the troublesome users, it’s an intriguing effort for real scientists to tap into all the people with nothing to do and plenty of time. Real scientists don’t have the time to go traipsing through suburbia or the local park to find worms. And even if they have to sort through a few Chihuahuas in teacups and inept arborists, it can save them unbelievable amounts of time.
I’m personally waiting for the Android app and the real nerds to start helping out.
[Via Noah]
