Using phenology to engage public audiences in climate change issues

Background/Question/Methods: People tend to become engaged in issues with which they have personal experience and that have immediate consequences in their everyday lives, but climate change is still often perceived as a vague and distant threat. The study of phenology is an ideal way to engage public audiences in climate change issues because it is tangible and comprehensible; virtually everyone can make observations about when plants leaf out, bloom, fruit, and die. Project BudBurst and the Floral Report Card, developed by the Chicago Botanic Garden and its collaborators, are two complimentary initiatives designed to help people understand climate change and its impacts by contributing to ongoing citizen science projects. Both projects were developed with the intention of providing not only an on-site visitor experience, but also a range of engagement opportunities that continue after the initial garden or website visit. In order to motivate the observer to further investigation, both projects leverage interactive and web-based technologies that allow visitors to manipulate data, ask questions of their own design, and provide immediate ways to extend the museum experience beyond the one-time visit. Finally, by providing a range of opportunities for action that address climate change from a variety of perspectives and at different levels of commitment, individuals are able to choose the actions that best fit their interests and personal constraints.

Results/Conclusions: Project Budburst, piloted for three months in 2007, received nearly 1000 observations from 38 states, the majority submitted by children under 12.  This last statistic is indicative of the project’s accessibility and broad appeal. Teachers in particular, have expressed their excitement at the prospect that their students can participate in a meaningful research project that is adaptable to all ages and classroom styles and is relevant across disciplines.