How You Can Help NASA Make Discoveries Citizen Science Projects Explained

Can ordinary people make real scientific discoveries for NASA? In this fascinating presentation at New Bedford Science Café, astrophysicist Dr. Marc Kuchner shares the remarkable story behind NASA's citizen science movement and explains how anyone can participate in important scientific research. As NASA's Citizen Science Officer, Dr. Kuchner has helped create opportunities for the public to contribute to more than 40 active NASA research projects. Volunteers have discovered new comets, identified exoplanets, documented rare auroras, and contributed to scientific breakthroughs that were once thought possible only for professional researchers. In his talk, "Forty Ways You Can Do NASA Science – Or, How I Almost Went to Jail," Dr. Kuchner recounts his journey from traditional astrophysicist to champion of participatory science, overcoming skepticism, institutional barriers, and even unexpected legal challenges along the way. Whether you're interested in astronomy, space exploration, citizen science, NASA missions, or simply want to learn how you can contribute to real scientific discoveries, this presentation offers an inspiring look at the future of collaborative research. Learn: • How anyone can participate in NASA research • The history of citizen science at NASA • About some of the discoveries made by volunteers worldwide • Ways to get involved in NASA science today To learn more about participating, visit https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-scie... #nasa #CitizenScience #SpaceExploration #Astronomy #Science #Exoplanets #Comets #Astrophysics #STEM #Space #Research #PublicScience #NASAProjects #MarcKuchner #ScienceEducation