This week, I reached a milestone that feels deeply connected to my mission as an educator and community outreach advocate: I completed the SciStarter Champion training program.
At first glance, it might look like just another certificate. But for me, it represents something much larger—a commitment to helping people discover that science is not a distant world reserved for experts. It’s a shared space where curiosity, collaboration, and community come together.
What It Means to Be a SciStarter Champion
SciStarter is a platform that connects people with citizen science projects across countless fields: astronomy, ecology, public health, environmental monitoring, and more. Becoming a SciStarter Champion means being trained to introduce these opportunities to others—students, families, neighbors, and anyone who wants to contribute to real scientific research.
In a time when many feel disconnected from science, citizen science offers a bridge. It says: You belong here. Your observations matter. Your participation can make a difference.
That message resonates deeply with me.
Why Citizen Science Aligns With My Work
As someone who works at the intersection of STEAM education, outreach, and community building, I’ve always believed that science becomes meaningful when it becomes personal. When people see themselves as contributors—not just spectators—something powerful happens. They gain agency. They gain confidence. They gain a sense of connection to the world around them.
Citizen science embodies that philosophy.
Whether it’s measuring light pollution, identifying wildlife, or helping map the night sky, these projects invite people to step into the role of explorer and collaborator. And that’s exactly the kind of engagement I strive to cultivate in every classroom, event, and partnership.
A Step Toward More Inclusive Science
Earning this certification is not an endpoint; it’s a beginning. It’s a reminder that science grows stronger when more voices join the conversation. It’s an invitation to continue building bridges—between organizations, between communities, and between people and the cosmos.
I’m grateful to SciStarter, to Darlene Cavalier, and to everyone who works tirelessly to make science accessible and participatory. And I’m excited to bring these tools and insights back to the communities I serve in Nevada and beyond.
Looking Ahead
In the coming months, I plan to integrate more citizen science opportunities into my outreach programs, bilingual presentations, and collaborations with schools and local organizations. My hope is simple: to help more people discover the joy of contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Science is not just something we learn. It’s something we do together.
And I’m honored to continue that journey as a SciStarter Champion.
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