Science Across Generations: Engaging All Ages Through Citizen Science at the Library

Citizen science invites people of all ages to contribute to real scientific research—making it a powerful tool for libraries looking to engage their communities in meaningful, hands-on STEM learning. In this interactive session, discover how citizen science fosters intergenerational connections, supports lifelong learning, and positions libraries as community science hubs. Participants will explore the value and impact of citizen science and learn about free turnkey and customizable resources developed by SciStarter. Together, we’ll dive into successful examples of citizen science projects that are easy to implement—like Budburst, Globe at Night, and The Great Sunflower Project. You’ll leave with the tools and confidence to design citizen science initiatives tailored to your community’s needs, with hands-on support and planning time built into the session. Whether you're new to citizen science or looking to expand your offerings, this workshop will spark ideas and equip you to take action.

Learning Objectives:

Presenters:

Emma Giles is the Director of Programs and Operations at SciStarter. She manages team operations, directs SciStarter's Citizen Science Month campaign "One Million Acts of Science," and supports the SciStarter Ambassador program. Emma holds a Master’s in Science & Technology Policy from Arizona State University. As former 5th grade math and science teacher, she was a Teach Earth Fellow with Earthwatch in 2021, studying caterpillars and climate change. In 2023, she attended the Scientific World Conceptions Summer School on Climate Science at the University of Vienna, Austria. 

Tara Cox is the Director of the International Citizen and Community Science Library Network, in which she oversees project management, professional development, and network growth. Tara specializes in developing and scaling learning experiences and resources on strategies for engaging diverse audiences in STEM. 

Deron Ash has been a staff member at Arizona State University since 2013 joining as a Program Manager for the Center for Nanotechnology in Society. After receiving his Master’s degree in Science and Technology Policy from the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, he works in research advancement and financial management at the school. Deron has been involved in citizen science since 2017 as part of an ASU/SciStarter team developing and deploying a variety of resources for public libraries to serve as hubs for citizen science in their communities.