SciStarter Ambassador

Skills and Competencies

Community Outreach:

• Successfully earning the SciStarter Ambassador badge demonstrates the recipient's ability to effectively engage and connect with local communities to promote citizen science initiatives.

Event Planning:

• By earning the SciStarter Ambassador badge, the recipient shows proficiency in planning, organizing, and executing community events that foster citizen science participation.

Science Communication:

• The SciStarter Ambassador badge confirms the recipient's skill in communicating scientific concepts clearly and engagingly to diverse audiences, enhancing public understanding and involvement.

Resource Management:

• Achieving the SciStarter Ambassador badge highlights the recipient's capability to identify, leverage, and manage resources from SciStarter and community organizations to support citizen science projects.

Leadership:

• Earning the SciStarter Ambassador badge reflects the recipient's leadership skills in motivating, guiding, and facilitating community members' contributions to citizen science activities.

Curiosity:

• The SciStarter Ambassador badge signifies the recipient's intrinsic curiosity and commitment to exploring and promoting citizen science, inspiring others to participate in scientific research.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Determine how to perform the primary roles of a SciStarter Ambassador.

2. Recognize the importance of SciStarter Ambassadors in furthering citizen science initiatives.

3. Identify strategies and resources for planning and hosting citizen science events.

Requirements

In addition to meeting the following requirements associated with the SciStarter Ambassador badge, recipients of this award have submitted a SciStarter Ambassador Application and Commitment Form, successfully passed a background check administered by Arizona State University, and participated in at least two citizen science events per year.

Completion of Foundations Training and Badge:

• Successfully complete the Foundations of Citizen Science training course and earn the corresponding badge.

Completion of SciStarter Ambassador Training:

Complete the SciStarter Ambassador training program.

Lesson 1: Champions of Change: Understanding the SciStarter Mission

• Articulate the overall mission and goals of SciStarter and the SciStarter Ambassador program.

• Recognize the three primary roles of a SciStarter Ambassador: champion, connector, and facilitator.

Lesson 2: From Past to Present: Libraries as Catalysts for Citizen Science

• Recall the history of the Libraries as Community Hubs for Citizen Science initiatives and their importance in overcoming barriers to participation and expanding access.

Lesson 3: Supporting Community Connections as a SciStarter Champion

• Recognize the importance of being an effective champion of citizen science.

• Identify the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective champion.

Lesson 4: Bridging Communities and Science as a SciStarter Connector

• Apply strategies for engaging with libraries and community members as a connector.

• Locate resources on the SciStarter platform to support citizen science initiatives.

Lesson 5: Empowering Citizen Science as a SciStarter Facilitator

• Apply strategies for engaging with libraries and community members as a facilitator.

• Locate resources on the SciStarter platform to support citizen science initiatives.

• Address common challenges when promoting and facilitating citizen science projects.

• Develop a plan for hosting a citizen science program or event with partner organizations.

Earn the SciStarter Ambassador badge

The SciStarter Ambassador module will help you learn the basics, participate in projects, contribute to SciStarter's mission as a citizen scientist, and facilitate introductions to citizen science as a volunteer in your community.

Visit scistarter.org/ambassadors to learn more about earning this badge.

What is SciStarter?

SciStarter is a globally acclaimed, online citizen science hub where millions of people connect with thousands of scientific research projects in need of their help.

SciStarter is supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the National Library of Medicine, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Verizon, the Girl Scouts of the USA and others seeking to support and sustain engagement in science, catalyze customized experiences and pathways, track progress and measure collective impact among their communities.

SciStarter is a research affiliate of Arizona State University and North Carolina State University.

Visit https://scistarter.org/ to learn more.