Using citizen science to bridge taxonomic discovery with education and outreach.
Matt von KonratThomas CampbellBen CarterMatthew GreifMike BrysonJuan LarraínLaura TrouilleSteve CohenEve GausAyesha QaziEric RibbensTatyana LivshultzTaylor J WalkerTomomi SuwaTaylor PetersonYarency RodriguezCaitlin VaughnChristina YangSelma AburahmehBrian CarstensenPeter de LangeCharlie DelavoiKalman StraussJustyna DragBlanka AgueroChris SnyderJoann MartinecArfon SmithPublished in: Applications in plant sciences (2018)
More than 11,000 users from both the website and kiosk versions have contributed to the data set, which is demonstrably aiding taxonomists working toward establishing conservation priorities within this group. MicroPlants provides opportunities for public participation in authentic science research. The project's educational component helps move youth toward engaging in scientific thinking and has been adopted by several universities into curriculum for both biology and non-biology majors.