Westchester County Center is at 198 Central Ave., White Plains. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program begins at 8:45 a.m. Citizen science is professionally-led research conducted in tandem with community-based volunteers. Citizen scientists learn valuable skills in order to collect and submit data, share experiences, and spread essential information all while observing nature with a critical lens. In turn, these large open volunteer networks often allow researchers to accomplish tasks that would be too expensive or time consuming to accomplish through other means.
A panel discussion with a question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentations. Additionally, a printed listing of local and regional citizen science projects will be distributed. Speakers for the program include the following: John Rowden, research and grants manager for the National Audubon Society, and he will discuss large-scale citizen science projects with which he has been involved. Chris Nagy, director of research and land management at Mianus River Gorge, and he will share how local citizen science initiatives help maintain and restore native communities and ecosystem function across the region. Linda Rohleder, director of land stewardship at New York New Jersey Trails Conference, and she will speak to her recent efforts leading the citizen-science driven Invasive Strike Force. This is a free program, and all are welcome to join. To register, visit http://citizensciencecoc.eventbrite.com. The parking fee at the County Center will be waived for program attendees. To receive free parking, print your confirmation email and show to parking attendant.