Department: Citizen/Community Science Programs, Education and Community Engagement

Supervisor: Ellen Eiriksson, Citizen Science Coordinator

Trained in the iNaturalist platform, Citizen Science volunteers bring the natural world to life, helping to create for participants lasting impressions of both the nature around them and their role as community scientists. They also do integral work to connect the local biodiversity data collected by NHMU community members with scientists around the world. 

Citizen Science volunteers champion NHMU Citizen Science activities by either or both of the following:

1. Engaging with participants during NHMU’s family nature events, including Salt Lake City Neighborhood Naturalists (SLCNN) and other public bioblitz/data collection events. During these events, often held at local urban spaces, volunteers help participants in observing and identifying the living organisms they encounter, and engage in conversations with individuals or small groups about what they observe. 

2. Working online on their own device to categorize the plants and animals in photographs taken by participants in NHMU family nature events. Volunteers use field guides to assist with the digital identification process of unique and important species observed during data collection events. 

Training Required: Citizen Science volunteers are required to attend one training session on the iNaturalist identification system and taxonomy basics.

Shift times: 

NHMU Family Nature Events: Typically we anticipate six-eight bioblitzes between April and November at local urban open spaces. Events will likely be on Saturday mornings and weekday evenings and run for three to four hours.

iNaturalist Identifications: Work on iNaturalist identifications can be done on your own schedule. However, it will be particularly important in the days immediately following an NHMU family nature event.

Time Commitment: Citizen Science volunteers work a minimum of three NHMU family nature events between April and November, and/or spend at least 2 hours categorizing iNaturalist photos after each event, plus an additional four hours in April, following the City Nature Challenge. Additional time spent making identifications throughout the year is encouraged and will be much appreciated.

Age Requirement: 18 years or older