50. Project Budburst

Help answer this Research Question: How is climate change affecting plant phenology? By monitoring plants and recording their life-cycle, we can figure out how seasonal patterns are changing and make predictions for the future. What scientists don’t know is exactly how or where the cycles are changing — or how fast the changes are happening. Through Project BudBurst, citizen scientists are collecting valuable information about seasonal plant cycles in a consistent way across the country. We can use the data to learn more about the responsiveness of individual plant species to changes in climate locally, regionally, and nationally. By comparing the results to historical data, researchers can detect some of the long-term impacts of climate change. This program will introduce Project Budburst, including instructions on how to participate in helping to answer the Research Question. Suitable for ages 16 and up.