Handbook of citizen science in conservation and ecology Introduction Christopher A. Lepczyk Owen Boyle and Timothy Vargo What is citizen science Jennifer Shirk and Rick Bonney The history of citizen science in ecology and conservation Abraham J. Miller Rushing Richard B. Primack Rick Bonney and Emma Albee Current approaches to citizen science Finn Danielsen Teis Adrian Per Moestrup Jensen Jesus Munoz Jennifer L. Shirk and Neil D. Burgess Project planning and design John C. Tweddle Helen E. Roy Lucy D.Robinson and Michael J. O. Pocock Legal ethical and policy considerations Anne Bowser Andrea Wiggins and Elizabeth Tyson Recruitment and building the team Michelle D. Prysby Retaining citizen scientists Rachel Goad Susanne Masi and Pati Vitt Training Heidi L. Ballard and Emily M. Harris Collecting high quality data Alycia W. Crall David Mellor Steven Gray and Gregory Newman Data management and visualization Gregory Newman Sarah Newman Russell Scarpino Nicole Kaplan Alycia Crall and Stacy Lynn Reporting citizen science findings Eva J. Lewandowski and Karen Oberhauser Program evaluation Rebecca Jordan Amanda Sorensen and Steven Gray How participation in citizen science projects impacts individuals Rebecca Christoffel From tiny acorns grow mighty oaks : what we have learned from nurturing natures notebook Theresa M. Crimmins LoriAnne Barnett Ellen G. Denny Alyssa H. Rosemartin Sara N. Schaffer and Jake F. Weltzin Citizen science at the urban ecology center : a neighborhood collaboration Jennifer Callaghan Beth Fetterley Heller Anne Reis Boyle Jessica L. Orlando and Timothy L. Vargo Driven to discover : a case study of citizen science as a springboard to science learning Andrea Lorek Strauss Karen Oberhauser Nathan J. Meyer and Pamela Larson Nippolt Challenges of forest citizen involvement in biodiversity monitoring in protected areas of Brazilian Amazonia Pedro de Araujo Lima Constantino Documenting the changing Louisiana wetlands through community driven citizen science Shannon Dosemagen and Scott Eustis Reef check California : scuba diving citizen scientists monitor rocky reef ecosystems Jan Freiwald and Andrew Beahrs. Handbook of Citizen Science in Ecology and Conservation is the first practical and comprehensive manual that provides step by step instructions for creating natural science research projects that involve collaboration between scientists and the general public. As citizen science projects become increasingly common there is a growing need for concrete best practices around planning and implementing successful projects that can allow project leaders to guide and gauge success of projects while ensuring the collection of high quality data. Based on a variety of case studies from several citizen science projects this is the definitive reference guide for all potential citizen science practitioners ranging from professors and graduate students to staff at agencies and nongovernmental organizations