Awesome Citizen Science

URL: https://github.com/dylanrees/citizen-science#readme
Category: Themed Directories
Tags: science, community, research

Overview

Awesome Citizen Science is a curated, open directory of software, tools, spaces, and educational resources that support citizen science, community-based research, and non‑institutional scientific practice. It is part of the broader "Awesome" list ecosystem and emphasizes free and open‑source options where possible.

Features

Scope and Focus

• Curated repository of resources for:
  • Citizen science
  • Community-based science
  • Non-institutional and DIY science
• Emphasis on tools that help communities use scientific methods and instruments.
• Inspired by similar "awesome" tool lists for activists and technologists.

Software

Organized collection of digital tools useful for citizen science workflows:

• Lab Equipment Software
  • Software that interfaces with or controls lab equipment.
  • Tools for measurement, data logging, or experimentation.
• Modeling and Computation
  • Simulation, data analysis, and numerical modeling tools.
  • Computational environments and frameworks relevant to scientific work.
• Publishing, Collaboration, and Organization
  • Tools to write, publish, and share research outputs.
  • Platforms for collaborative work, documentation, and project management.
• Graphs and Visualization
  • Tools to create plots, graphs, and visualizations of scientific data.

Educational Resources

• Section dedicated to educational materials related to:
  • Citizen science methods and practice.
  • Learning scientific concepts in community and DIY contexts.

Tools and Physical Equipment

Curated lists of hardware-focused tools and equipment, organized by domain:

• Biology and Chemistry
  • Lab tools, kits, and devices for biological and chemical experiments.
• Environmental Science and Geology
  • Field instruments and tools for monitoring and measuring environmental variables.
• 3D Printing and Fabrication
  • Fabrication tools for building custom instruments, enclosures, and experimental setups.
• Electronics
  • Electronic components, kits, and hardware platforms relevant to instrumentation.
• Other
  • Miscellaneous tools that support experimental or observational work.

Publishing and Doing Research

• Resources to support the research lifecycle outside traditional institutions:
  • Guides and tools for designing studies.
  • Approaches to documentation, data management, and sharing results.

Literature

Curated reading lists related to citizen science:

• Citizen Science Theory
  • Conceptual and theoretical works about citizen and community science.
• Citizen Science Practice
  • Case studies, how‑to guides, and practical reflections on doing citizen science.

Citizen Science Spaces and Projects

Directory of projects and physical/organizational spaces:

• Genetics / Biohacking
  • Community labs and projects focused on genetics, molecular biology, and biohacking.
• Environment
  • Community monitoring, environmental justice, and ecology-related projects.
• Other
  • Additional citizen science initiatives that don’t fit neatly into the above categories.

Art and Science Spaces

• List of interdisciplinary, community-driven labs and spaces that combine:
  • Art, science, technology, and DIY/maker culture.
• Emphasis on:
  • Member-led structures.
  • Curiosity-driven projects.
  • Work that crosses disciplinary boundaries (e.g., bio-art).

Funding and Support

Resources to help sustain citizen science work:

• Financial Resources
  • Potential funding sources or references for grants and financial support.
• Other Types of Support
  • Non-financial support, such as mentorship, institutional partnerships, or in-kind resources.

Conferences and Events

• Listing of events and gatherings relevant to:
  • Citizen science practitioners.
  • Community labs and DIY science communities.

Other Resources

• Miscellaneous materials that support or contextualize citizen science practice, not captured in other sections.

Questions and Knowledge Gaps

• Section highlighting open questions and areas where new tools or resources are needed.
• Helps contributors identify where contributions could be most impactful.

Contribution Guidelines

• Clear instructions on how to propose additions or changes:
  • Contributions via GitHub issues.
  • Separate contributing.md file describing contribution process.
• Preference stated for free and open-source software when adding tools.

Licensing

• Repository includes LICENSE.md.
• Stated intention: CC0 / public domain-style dedication ("No copyright intended" and CC0 badge).

Pricing

• Not applicable. This is an open, curated list of resources, not a paid product or service.