Online and at live events across the country, the Science Cheerleaders playfully challenge stereotypes and mentor and inspire young women to pursue science, engineering and math careers. But did you know they also get kids AND adults engaged in science by drawing them in to real research projects (known as “citizen science”)?
They literally get thousands of everyday people to contribute to scientific research: tagging monarch butterflies to help researchers track their migratory path; sorting and classify online images of galaxies on behalf of astronomers at Yale and NASA; counting neighborhood fireflies to monitor their population changes for a scientist at the Boston Museum of Science.
All of these citizen science projects and 500 more are found on our sister-site “SciStarter”
And so it is with great enthusiasm that I announce a new partnership we formed with Discover Magazine1
Now EVERYONE can contribute to science and join forces with top researchers through Your Research Mission—a new partnership between DISCOVER Magazine and SciStarter.com, the sister-site of Science Cheerleader!
NEW YORK, NY. (March 15, 2012) – A “citizen science” movement is sweeping the country. Now, amateur enthusiasts who want to collaborate with leading scientists can visit DiscoverMagazine.com to join cutting-edge research projects.
DISCOVER is teaming up with SciStarter.com to present Your Research Mission, a dynamic project showcase. Each week, it will feature curated citizen science tasks, ranging from analyzing distant galaxies to monitoring frog, firefly and whale populations, to detecting home and body microbiomes. The projects will make it simple for everyone to jump in and get their hands dirty with science.
“This partnership moves DISCOVER into the fast-growing realm of citizen science,” says Corey S. Powell, Editor in Chief of DISCOVER magazine. “Our readers tell us they’re eager to help study and explore the world, but it can be difficult for them to know where to begin. Now we’ll be offering projects vetted, sorted and aggregated by SciStarter to our two million monthly online visitors.”
“DISCOVER has enormous credibility in the scientific community. Its print and online readers are enthusiastic and intelligent, and their participation in research projects will be invaluable to researchers,” adds Darlene Cavalier, Founder of SciStarter.
Select SciStarter projects will be featured on DiscoverMagazine.com each day beginning in March. Researchers and team leaders who want their project featured can submit it to the SciStarter.com Project Finder for consideration by the SciStarter editors.
About SciStarter.com

SciStarter aims to enable people to contribute to science through informal recreational activities and formal research efforts. The website creates a shared space where scientists can talk with citizens interested in working on or learning about their research projects.
Darlene Cavalier founded both SciStarter and Science Cheerleader.com, a popular community that works through NFL and NBA cheerleaders-turned-scientists and engineers to promote science literacy, inspire kids to consider careers in science and technology, and involve everyday people in science research and science-related policy.
About DISCOVER

DISCOVER makes science entertaining and understandable through beautiful writing, stunning images, and clear explanations. The monthly magazine covers all of science, from astronomy to human origins to the environment. DiscoverMagazine.com is one of the top science destinations on the Internet, with more than two million monthly visitors. It features daily science news coverage, image and video galleries, and a lineup of popular science blogs including Bad Astronomy, The Loom, and Not Exactly Rocket Science.