Pathways: Using Citizen Science to Study the Social Behaviors of a Charismatic Rare Bat Species at Mammoth Cave National Park

Information

• NSF Award
• 1223908

Owner

• Western Kentucky University Research Foundation, Inc.

• Award Id

  1223908

• Award Effective Date

  9/1/2012 - 12 years ago

• Award Expiration Date

  8/31/2017 - 7 years ago

• Award Amount

  $ 244,131.00

• Award Instrument

  Standard Grant

Experts in informal science education, citizen science, bats, and computer science are developing and evaluating, at Mammoth Cave National Park, a hybrid onsite/online proof-of-concept program for citizen scientists to observe and record (tag) roosting behaviors of Rafinesque's big-eared bats via streaming video. Participants are helping bat researchers document bat behaviors that provide insights into the benefits of communal roosting and interactions that serve to create or maintain social bonds and spread disease. The project is also developing a proof-of-concept mobile kiosk that links the citizen science bat study program to other exhibits at Mammoth Cave. <br/><br/>Project personnel are conducting evaluation studies to identify best practices for engaging underserved populations and professional scientists in the study of bat behavior, and developing plans for scaling up the program to include video and educational resources from other bat sites around the country. Lessons learned from the project will inform development of a new, nationwide, online citizen science program focused on bat behavior.

• Program Officer

  David Haury

• Min Amd Letter Date

  9/11/2012 - 12 years ago

• Max Amd Letter Date

  6/24/2016 - 8 years ago

• ARRA Amount

• Name

  Western Kentucky University Research Foundation

• City

  Bowling Green

• State

  KY

• Country

  United States

• Address

  Western Kentucky University

• Postal Code

  421011016

• Phone Number

  2707454652

• First Name

  Shannon

• Last Name

  Trimboli

• Email Address

  shannon.trimboli@wku.edu

• Start Date

  9/11/2012 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Guangming

• Last Name

  Xing

• Email Address

  guangming.xing@wku.edu

• Start Date

  9/11/2012 12:00:00 AM

• End Date

  03/13/2015

• First Name

  Rickard

• Last Name

  Toomey

• Email Address

  rick.toomey@wku.edu

• Start Date

  9/11/2012 12:00:00 AM

• Text

  AISL

• Code

  7259

• Text

  EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES

• Code

  9150

• Text

  ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION

• Code

  9177

• Text

  SCIENCE, MATH, ENG & TECH EDUCATION