Crowdsourcing science to answer
hard questions.

Strategy, Mobile technology, Web design, Film production, Branding & Identity

Citizen science done right is a beautiful thing. It crowdsources the scientific enterprise, transforming people young and old into researchers. With the National Audubon Society we set out to activate a citizen network to answer intractable questions about climate change. Specifically, is climate change altering the delicate timing between hummingbird migration and the blooming of flowers they rely on for food?

Transforming
citizens into
scientists.

We worked with Audubon from the ground level to envision, design and build a series of user friendly data collection platforms. The result was a modern approach to engage the public in science. Web and mobile applications provided an easy way to log and submit data from many devices. Interactive maps closed the loop, bringing collated information back to the participants who made the new insights possible.

Low bar for
entry, high bar for fidelity.

Crowdsourcing science can be an all around win. Participants see their world in a new way while compiling data that helps scientists answer the thorny questions of our time. But the information must be trustworthy. We needed to carefully design data collection interfaces to ensure the information would be reliable and as error-free as possible.

Robust data collection
made simple.

We designed and built applications that transformed mobile devices into sophisticated data collection tools. Users can conduct one of several survey types, maximizing utility to Audubon scientists. Lists of hummingbird and flower species are geo-specific and filtered based on a user’s location, reducing errors and improving user experience. Participants can also submit data via a website that contains interactive maps allowing users to browse and filter data collected by citizen scientists from across the country. Promo and tutorial videos help spread the word and facilitate on-boarding to the program.