People-Powered Research and Experiential Learning: Unraveling Hidden Biodiversity
Authors: Pivarski Melanie , von Konrat Matt , Campbell Thomas , Qazi-Lampert Ayesha , Trouille Laura , Davis Aimee , Aburahmeh Selma , Aguilar Joseph , Alb Cosmin , Alferes Ken , Barker Ella , Boulware Kelli , Cao Sicong , Christian Christine , Corona Jr. Arturo , Demiri Kaltra , Evans Daniel , Flavin Connor , Gogol Victoria , Heublein Elizabeth , Huang Edward , Hutchinson Jake , Jackson Cyrus , Jackson Odaliz , Kirihara Michi , Kowalczyk Annette , Labontu Alex , Levi Briajia , Martin-Eberhardt Sylvie , Martinec Joann , Nguyen Pansy , Nolimal Sarah , Reese Victoria , Rodriguez Joannie , Rodriguez Yarency , Shuler Jacob , Silvestre Jasmine , Simpson Glenn , Somarriba Gabriel , Ssozi Rogers , Suwa Tomomi , Syring Cheyenne , Thompson Keith , Vaughn Caitlin , Viramontes Mario , Wong Chak Shing 
Published: March 2022

Globally, thousands of institutions house nearly three billion scientific collections offering unparalleled resources that contribute to both science and society. For herbaria alone - facilities housing dried plant collections - there are over 3,000 herbaria worldwide with an estimated 350 million specimens that have been collected over the past four centuries. Digitization has greatly enhanced the use of herbarium data in scientific research, impacting diverse research areas, including biodiversity informatics, global climate change, analyses using next-generation sequencing technologies, and many others. Despite the entrance of herbaria into a new era with enhanced scientific, educational, and societal relevance, museum specimens remain underused. Natural history museums can enhance learning and engagement in science, particularly for school-age and undergraduate students. Here we outline a novel approach of a natural history museum using touchscreen technology that formed part of an interactive kiosk in a temporary museum exhibit on biological specimens. We provide some preliminary analysis investigating the efficacy of the tool, based on the Zooniverse platform, in an exhibit environment to engage patrons in the collection of biological data. We conclude there is great potential in using crowd‐sourced science coupled with online technology to unlock data and information from digital images of natural history specimens themselves. Sixty percent of the records generated by community scientists (citizen scientists) were of high enough quality to be utilized by researchers. All age groups produced valid, high quality data that could be used by researchers, including children (10 and under), teens, and adults. Significantly, the paper outlines the implementation of experiential learning through an undergraduate mathematics course that focuses on projects with actual data to gain a deep, practical knowledge of the subject, including observations, the collection of data, analysis, and problem solving. We here promote an intergenerational model including children, high school students, undergraduate students, early career scientists and senior scientists, combining experiential learning, museum patrons, researchers, and data derived from natural history collections. Natural history museums with their dual remit of education and collections-based research can play a significant role in the field of community engagement and people-powered research. There also remains much to investigate on the use of interactive displays to help learners interpret and appreciate authentic research.