Citizen science portal
Science is all around us. It plays a part in getting us to work, powering our buildings, and making sure the food and water we consume is safe. Every day, researchers are working to improve our society and discover new things about the world in which we live.
There are science projects and science experiments happening in your community that you can get involved in. Some may only be available at certain times of year or in certain areas, but with a little exploring you can find exciting ways to take part in science. You can then share how you are involved in science using the hashtag #ScienceAroundMe.
If you are a scientist and you lead a citizen science project please email us and we’ll add it to the list.
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Want to do more to help protect nature? Great! Now’s the time.
It’s through everyday actions that we can all come together and make a real difference in protecting nature.
Science projects
Abeilles citoyennes (in French only)
Abeilles citoyennes is a participatory science project aimed at inventorizing the biodiversity of wild pollinating insects (bees and hoverflies) throughout Québec. Led by a research team from Université Laval, the project is using public assistance to collect data on the distribution and abundance of pollinator species in Quebec's main agricultural regions.
Agroclimate Impact Reporter
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Through a simple monthly update, agricultural producers can report on the impact of weather and climate conditions and events in their region. The volunteers provide valuable information about the current agricultural situation and emerging risks.
Birds Canada
Every single day, Citizen Scientists (volunteers) like you share their energy, skill, and bird sightings through Birds Canada’s research and monitoring programs–and this action helps inform conservation action!
Budworm Tracker
Natural Resources Canada/Healthy Forest Partnership
The spruce budworm is the most destructive insect in eastern Canadian forests. Citizen scientists play a major role in providing insight into why populations rise and spread the way they do. Watch this video to learn more.
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
Contact the CWHC regional centre in your area to report sick or dead wildlife and help track the health of wild populations.
Citizen Science: Pain Research
BC SUPPORT Unit: British Columbia Academic Health Science Network
You can help guide health research and improve the lives of others with similar health problems. By sharing your experiences, we can learn how pain affects different people, and together we can discover new research ideas.
Colony B
Colony B is a fast paced puzzle game specifically designed for phones and tablets. But Colony B is much more than that! Every game played enables you to help researchers working on microbes and human health. Play Colony B and become a citizen scientist!
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Environment and Climate Change Canada
Join this volunteer network of weather observers who measure and map precipitation (rain and snow) in their communities.
DRAW - Data Rescue: Archives & Weather
Help us uncover the story of Montreal's evolving climate captured in the McGill Observatory's historical weather logs. Your transcriptions will help scientists and historians gain a better understanding of our environment and its impact on our city and its people.
Eagle Watch
Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation
The Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation is dedicated to the study of Eagles and other birds of prey, primarily through the documentation of their spring and fall migrations along the mountains of Western Canada.
Early Detection and Rapid Response Network Ontario
Join the EDRR Network for access to workshops, training materials and resources aimed at helping citizens report and manage invasive species in their communities.
eButterfly
This website allows users to track their butterfly sightings and locations; organize, store and share photos; and make a valuable contribution to science and conservation.
EcoSpark
EcoSpark offers a variety of citizen science projects to engage youth and communities in taking an active role in protecting and sustaining their local environment. To learn more about our citizen science programs, resource guides, monitoring initiatives and how you can inspire positive change in your community, visit our website.
Expedition Arctic Botany
Across Canada’s northern territories, hundreds of specially adapted plant species grow low and slow, making the most of brief summers under the midnight sun. The Canadian Museum of Nature leads an international project to document the plant species across our rapidly changing Arctic, drawing much information from present-day field work and from specimens collected over the past 200+ years.
FluWatch
Public Health Agency of Canada
Become a FluWatcher and help monitor the spread of flu-like illnesses in Canada.
Frog Watch
NatureWatch
Find out how to participate in a program to help increase knowledge of frogs and toads in Canada.
Image credit: Stefania Gorgopa
Guardians of the Deep
Guardians of the Deep is a citizen science program through which SCUBA divers identify and count threatened marine fish species. The fish count data is important for monitoring marine species affected by over-fishing and habitat loss.
Ice Watch
NatureWatch
Contribute to Canadian climate change research by helping to record and analyze when ice forms and thaws on bodies of water.
iNaturalist.ca
Connect with nature in a whole new way. Explore. Learn. Contribute to conservation with iNaturalist.ca
Milkweed Watch
NatureWatch
Monarch butterflies need milkweed plants for their reproduction. Help track the health of butterfly populations in Canada by identifying the location of milkweed plants.
Mission Monarch
Share your observations of monarchs and milkweeds to contribute to the conservation of this butterfly, a species at risk. In order to find and protect the monarch's critical breeding habitat, we invite all citizens to share their observations of monarch butterflies, caterpillars, eggs and chrysalises, as well as milkweed, the only plant on which the monarch lays its eggs.
Neighbourhood Bat Watch
Support bat conservation by locating bat colonies and counting the number of bats living in them.
Ocean Networks Canada
Become a digital fisher or coastbuster, and follow live video feeds to help Ocean Networks Canada study the oceans.
Plant Watch
NatureWatch
Participate in Plant Watch to help scientists discover how, and more importantly why, our natural environment is changing.
Report an Earthquake
Natural Resources Canada
Did you feel it? Help seismologists determine how your area may respond to future earthquakes by contributing intensity information on the earthquakes you experience.
Image credit: Gary Brinton Photography
Sable Island NPR Grey Seal Count
Sable Island National Park Reserve, Parks Canada
Help us count grey seals in Sable Island National Park Reserve using aerial photos.
Shark sightings
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Document and report your encounter with a shark. Most people don't know what to do when and if they see a shark. The answer is: enjoy the view from a safe distance. Sharks are wild animals, and deserve the same level of respect given to any other wild animal.
STREAM (Sequencing The Rivers for Environmental Assessment and Monitoring)
University of Guelph, WWF Canada, Living Lakes Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada
STREAM combines citizen science community-based monitoring with environmental DNA identification (DNA metabarcoding) technology to generate data on biodiversity especially for freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates (i.e. river bugs) to better understand freshwater health across Canada.
Volunteer bird surveys
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Data from bird surveys provides information on population status and trends that help identify species or populations requiring conservation action. These bird surveys depend on citizen scientists of all ages and skill levels.
Water Rangers
Water testing for everyone
Our free, open-data platform, water testing kits, and online course are tools for anyone to learn about and protect our lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Parks Canada
Waterton Lakes National Park has several annual citizen science projects that allow everyday people to gain in-depth knowledge of species found in the park and the issues facing Waterton.
Wild Whales: Report marine animal sightings
Fisheries and Oceans Canada/B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network
Support the conservation of marine animals by reporting sightings of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in British Columbia waters.
Worm Watch
NatureWatch
Discover the diversity beneath your feet by participating in Worm Watch. Help scientists research all the earthworm species in Canada.
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