Citizen Science
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen Science involves coordinated efforts by all people irrespective of their occupation, education-level, or scientific understanding, to contribute valuable data for the advancement of humanity’s knowledge and the betterment of the global community.
Examples of individual involvement
Submitting list of birds identified while birding in one’s local ecosystem to broader survey.
Taking part in collaborative effort to collect local insects to accumulate list of species diversity and abundance.
Collecting soil samples on one’s land to test for nutrient composition for permaculture studies.
Eliminating scientific authority and power differentials
In the next world, we will create an environment that celebrates science, and disavows “scientISM.” Science will no long be treated as a religion, but rather used as a tool to enhance our spiritual evolution.
Science will no longer be made too complicated and daunting for the average person to understand and engage in, therefore eliminating power placed in the hands of the few to shift humanity’s evolutionary course.
Increasing the overall strength of the human race
When everybody is taught at a young age the fascination of science in coordination with appreciating nature’s beauty and magnificence, the very concept of ignorance will vanish.
When every single person is valued as a contributer to humanity’s wealth of knowledge, the human race will be able to take the next big step in exploring the galaxy and interacting with other more-developed races.
People who are properly educated make better decisions for the global community’s health.
Empowering people to have fun exploring nature
Part of the majesty of nature is understanding how it works, and what aspects of Mother’s personality are at play.
When people get involved in studying and observing nature’s denizens, their self-awareness grows and extends to the web of life that connects us all.
All children love chasing butterflies, but can you imagine how their excitement grows when they get answers to their continuous queries of “WHY?”
How is Citizen Science in alignment with the three ROOTS of the Tree of Life…?
NATURAL LAW
When every person is educated and engaged in scientific reasoning and practice at least on a basic level, then there is a level playing-field within human consciousness. In other words, when everybody is scientifically literate, then the illusion of authority breaks down…restoring our relationship with Natural Law.
The days are long gone where scientists with college degrees will be looked at as authority figures who are the arbiters of Truth. When every single person at least knows the basics of science, especially in the natural sciences such as ecology and biology, then every person can contribute to humanity’s breadth of knowledge, as it should be.
While scientists are the leaders of scientific advancement, they by no means should be authority figures under any circumstances.
MUTUALISM
While specialization in any field of study can be beneficial, if every person is educated broadly across all subjects, then communication becomes much better. With better communication comes a free-flow of ideas that emulate a mighty river enriching the surrounding landscape with life force.
If every person becomes engaged in science on a basic level, then the capacity for human ingenuity rises exponentially. Knowledge paves way to understanding, which leads to wisdom. Humans, animals, and all aspects of our planet benefit from people being scientifically literate, because it allows people to make the very best decisions that are eco-conscious.
As an example, if a graphic designer has some basic knowledge about science, then they can more easily work with scientists in communicating ideas so the average person could understand.
TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
In order to live in harmony with our planet, we need to align ourselves to its natural processes. While this is largely an intuitive process, scientific understanding breathes logic into our psyche giving us a holistic integration with our surroundings.
If everybody was taught at a young age how to identify birds by both sight and sound, then every person can be a part of avian conservation practices. Imagine what we could achieve if every person in their respective communities across the whole world contributed to bird migration data! Not only would everybody be able to contribute to something important, but it would give people an exhilarating adventure and feeling of achievement.
Every person has the ability to tune into their local ecosystem and contribute to a much larger vision. Soil samples, species identification, climate observations, etc. are all important studies that help humanity integrate with our planet’s flows and cycles.
