D3306: Communicating science and increasing engagement in participatory science projects: The case of Bugs Below Zero and winter-active aquatic insects

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

Alyssa M. Anderson (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor of Biology
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, Minnesota

Co-Author(s)

RS

Rebecca Swenson

University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota
CN

Corrie Nyquist

Lund University
Lund, Skane Lan, Sweden
AS

Amy Schrank

University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota
BV

Bruce Vondracek

University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota

Insects are everywhere during the summer, but few people consider what happens in the winter; fewer yet consider insects that are active during winter. Bugs Below Zero, an interdisciplinary, grant-supported effort, aims to raise awareness of winter-active aquatic insects, their important role in stream food webs, and susceptibility to effects of climate change. Our goals are to inspire communities and classrooms to unlock secrets of winter food webs and to build and promote a participatory science opportunity that will enhance winter research efforts. We do this by combining classroom resources, educational events, digital tools, and a participatory science effort, available via the Anecdata digital platform. Bugs Below Zero activities are aimed at a broad audience, including nature and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, environmental education centers, and K-16 classrooms. We have identified untapped interest among educators and public audiences in participating in freshwater ecology data collection in winter, since this season historically offers few opportunities for outdoor labs, volunteer programs, and fieldwork. We highlight outcomes of our efforts, including freely available educational resources, as well as insights from our formative research efforts on the barriers and motivations for participation in community science projects. We offer advice on how to structure public science projects to appeal to both K-12 instructors and higher education faculty. We found that ideal programs provide a sense of collaboration, flexible data collection protocols, and tangible results.