Citizen science offers a unique opportunity to travel back in time and contribute to historic discoveries. By engaging in various projects, you can explore fragile photographs, ancient artifacts, and hand-written records that hold the key to untold stories from the past. These projects not only fill in missing pieces of history but also uncover secrets that could shape our future.
One such project is the Smithsonian Transcription Center, where volunteers, or “volunpeers,” are needed to catalog historical artifacts and transcribe documents. The Smithsonian, known as “America’s Attic,” houses a treasure trove of items that require attention and care. By joining this initiative, you can be part of preserving and sharing valuable pieces of our collective history in science, art, culture, and more.
Another engaging project is the Stroll Through the Cemetery, led by Caroline Nickerson of Florida Community Innovation. Cemeteries are filled with countless untold stories of individuals who have lived before us. By selecting a name from the Miami City Cemetery, you can uncover the fascinating story of that person and share it with the world. This project aims to bring to light the lives and experiences of those who may have been forgotten over time.
The FISHstory project focuses on utilizing photographs of sport fishing trips to study fish populations and distributions from previous decades. By examining these images and identifying the fish species present, volunteers can contribute to understanding the abundance and range of game fish. Even if you are not a fish expert, the project provides tutorials to make the process enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
In the Glyph project, volunteers play a game to identify common elements in the letters of different languages. By recognizing patterns in letter shapes and structures, researchers can trace the evolution of written language over thousands of years. Your contribution, along with that of many others, will help unravel the intricate history of how letters have evolved across various languages and cultures.
Measuring the ANZACs invites participants to delve into the personnel files of soldiers who served in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp during the early 20th century. By creating a comprehensive index of these soldiers and documenting their service activities and medical records, volunteers can contribute to historical research, genealogical studies, and medical investigations.
Engaging in citizen science projects not only allows you to explore the past but also enables you to make meaningful contributions to historical discoveries. By participating in these initiatives, you can play a vital role in preserving and sharing our rich heritage for future generations to appreciate and learn from. Take a step back in time and be a part of uncovering the hidden stories that shape our world.