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What is Community Science?
Community science is when members of the public voluntarily participate in a scientific process to solve real-world problems (NOAA Office of Education). Depending on the project, volunteers involved in citizen science can participate in many different ways such as documenting observations, collecting and analyzing data, developing research questions, and more. Community Science is a great way to get residents aware about local scientific efforts, learning and solving environmental issues, and feel like they are making a difference within their community.
At the JC NERR, we have various citizen-science opportunities occurring throughout the year. We also have ways you and your family can go out and do citizen science on your own, at any time!
Current Projects!
Below are current community science efforts you can participate in. For most activities, you will need to be an official JC NERR volunteer.
Click here to learn more about our volunteer program and fill out our online application!
Monofilament line collection project
Monofilament, or fishing line, can be a harmful source of marine debris if not disposed of properly . With this effort, volunteers are scheduled to check and empty local monofilament receptacles. The collected fishing line is then weighed and stored at the JC NERR before it’s shipped off to be processed.
Trail Stewards
Often the JC NERR staff is busy with field work, office work, or travel. Therefore, we can’t always check the Grassle Marsh trail for hazards such as fallen trees, filled trash bins, vandalism, etc. Become a trail steward by routinely walking and documenting our trail to ensure it remains safe and enjoyable for visitors!
Data Collection of Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and other Forage Species
There is not much known about which forage fish types exist in the West Fork of Tuckerton Creek near JC NERR, and if the Culvert bridge is impacting the ecology of the salt marsh around it. With this effort, volunteers are tasked with gathering data by checking minnow traps in and around this area, which could provide further insights into the creek’s underwater environment.
Eel Monitoring
Since 2008, our neighbors at the Hudson River NERR in upstate New York have been successfully monitoring glass, or juvenile, eels within various sites along the Hudson River with help from local citizens. Through a 2020 NERRS Science Collaborative Transfer grant, the JC NERR brought the HR NERR’s eel monitoring project to the Great Bay-Mullica River estuary! This eel monitoring effort increases community engagement, provides real-world science to teachers and students, and provides useful information about the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) to fisheries managers.
This project runs from March to June.
Community Science- any time, anywhere!
Below is a list of mobile apps we recommend for participating in citizen science no matter where you live. Whether you are a student, and experienced naturalist, or just want a fun activity to do with the family, anyone can use these! Users also have the option to join a JC NERR project through iNaturalist and the Marine Debris Tracker app specifically.
iNaturalist is an app you can use to document various species of flora and fauna. Your findings then go to a data repository which is available for use by scientists. This community of observers can also help you identify critters, chat about your findings, and more!
iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.
To join the JC NERR and Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS) project, search “Rutgers Marine Field Station & JC NERR (Rutgers Univ.), Tuckerton, NJ, USA” in the project search bar!
Made by the same developers as iNaturalist. Perfect for kids! Explore and learn about various species of flora and fauna through taking photos and video through Seek. Photographs are analyzed with image recognition technology to identify the species being observed.
Take action on trash by using the Marine Debris Tracker app! Find a piece of litter while walking your dog? Or are you coordinating a beach clean up? This app is perfect for tracking any trash or debris that you collect. And it’s not just for the beach, you can use this app in your neighborhood, at a park, anywhere! The marine Debris tracker app is a joint initiative between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative (SEA-MDI), run out of the University of Georgia College of Engineering.