UMaine Extension, Sea Grant to host citizen science training in April and May

A group of budding citizen scientists learn about rockweed phenology along the Brunswick coast. University of Maine Cooperative Extension

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant are hosting a series of workshops for individuals interested in participating in the Signs of the Seasons citizen science project.

The first training session is scheduled for Thursday, April 4th from 12:30pm to 2:30pm at Stimpson’s Point in Brunswick. Additional workshops will be held in Falmouth, Wells, Augusta, Camden and Boothbay during April and May.

For a complete schedule, visit extension.umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons. For those unable to attend, a three-part webinar series is also available.

Participants will learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclical and seasonal changes in plants and animals), practice their observations, and start their own sites to observe and record changes. You can expect to acquire the necessary tools and knowledge. Seasonology.

Signs of the Seasons seeks volunteers to identify and document changes in more than 20 different indicator species, including rockweed, milkweed, loons, butterflies, and lilacs, important to understanding changes in Maine’s climate This is a statewide effort. Data from this network of volunteers will help build a rich, detailed record of regional seasonal changes that will be made available to collaborating scientists and resource managers.

The workshop is free, but registration on the program website is required. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Keri Kaczor (keri.kaczor@maine.edu or 207.974.9502) or Beth Bisson (beth.bisson@maine.edu).

Check out other upcoming area events!

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