Resources for Scientists

Want to Work with Citizen Scientists?

• The Science Mission Directorate’s Citizen Science Policy Document provides key definitions. Citizen Science is “a form of open collaboration…”. Citizen science projects are science projects that “rely on volunteers”.  Citizen science projects are held to the same rigorous standard as any NASA science project.
• The NASA ESDS Citizen Science Data Working Group White Paper can help you sort out how to handle citizen science data.
• The NASA Citizen Science Resources for Learners clickable document provides classroom resources along with the grades served and applicable Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Disciplinary Core Idea Domains.
• Leverage the power of your NASA affiliation by using the NASA Partner logo on your website and materials or by distributing this NASA Citizen Science Flyer.
• Follow DoNASAScience on X or on Facebook. Or interact directly with interested members of the public in the Sciencing with NASA Facebook Group.
• NASA partners with Zooniverse, SciStarter, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences to help you connect with colleagues and citizen scientists.

Looking for NASA Funding?

NASA’s annual Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) call offers many funding opportunities that support Citizen Science. Proposals submitted to any NASA Research Opportunities in Earth and Space Science (ROSES) element, unless otherwise noted in the program element, may be entirely or partially citizen science-based. There are also several annual ROSES opportunities that specifically emphasize citizen science. 

• The Citizen Science Seed Funding Program (CSSFP) supports citizen science relevant to the Science Mission Directorate’s Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Heliophysics, or Planetary Sciences divisions. Cross-divisional proposals are also accepted! Proposals are limited to 6 pages for the central Scientific/Technical/Management section. Submitting a CSSFP proposal? Here’s the Citizen Science Open Science and Data Management Plan Template.
• The Heliophysics Citizen Science Investigations (HCSI) element supports citizen science relevant to the Science Mission Directorate’s Heliophysics division, providing up to three years of funding.
• The High Priority Open Source Science (HPOSS) element (F.14) prioritizes “Developing technology to support inclusivity of open-source science, including platforms to enable citizen science.” 

Other sources of NASA funding for citizen science and community science open up from time to time. 

• The Citizen Science for Earth Systems Program (CSESP) supports citizen science relevant to the Science Mission Directorate’s Earth Science Division.
• The Science Activation program supports collaborative projects that seek to connect NASA Science with diverse learners of all ages. It aims to increase learners’ active participation in the advancement of human knowledge.
• NASA’s Equity and Environmental Justice program has supported community science, where community members lead or co-design the work plan.  “NASA will request proposals developed in collaboration with underserved and overburdened communities, that involve a co-design process to address community interests in using Earth science information in decisions, actions, and policies.”
• NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)  has supported projects related to citizen science through the EPSCoR Rapid Response Research Opportunity. EPSCoR aims to to strengthen the research capability of jurisdictions that have not historically participated equitably in competitive aerospace research activities.
• The Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Cooperative Agreement Notice has supported proposals relevant to aspects of planetary science. “Each proposal shall include a Science Activation, Citizen Science, and Public Engagement (SA/CS/PE) Plan.”
• Look for more opportunities for Citizen Science in Mission Announcements of Opportunity (AOs)!

New to NASA’s annual Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) funding process? Max Bernstein gives an overview  ROSES proposals are submitted through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Learn the basics of navigating this system. 

Other NASA Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Webpages

• The Citizen Science for Earth Systems Program offers projects that invite participation in projects that advance our understanding of Earth as a system.
• NASA’s Earth Science Applied Sciences program conducts and supports work, including citizen science and community science, that uses NASA data to inform decision-making, enhance quality of life and strengthen our economy.
• Get Involved with NASA serves as a hub for NASA crowdsourcing, including prizes and challenges like the Space Apps Challenge.

Citizen Science Resources from Other Federal Agencies

• Watch a video about how other federal agencies support participatory science through their funding programs.
• The Federal Citizen Science Website offers a CitizenScience.gov Resource Library and a Citizen Science Toolkit. Make sure to list your NASA-funded citizen science project in the searchable citizenscience.gov database. 

Citizen Science Projects by Division

• Heliophysics Division Citizen Science shares information on citizen science related to the nature of the Sun, how it influences the nature of space – and, in turn, the atmospheres of planets. 
• Planetary Science Division Citizen Science shares information on citizen science focused on exploring objects in our solar system.
• Earth Science Division Citizen Science lists projects that help us understand our planet’s interconnected systems, from a global scale down to minute processes.
• NASA’s Astrophysics and Biological and Physical Sciences Divisions also sponsor citizen science projects, but do not yet have dedicated webpages for this work. You can find these projects on the NASA citizen science webpage.

Thank You for Sharing Your Science!