"In 2015, I was struggling to make enough samples for a research project. My colleague Julia Parker and I wanted to understand the formation of calcium carbonate - a compound found in natural materials ranging from chalk and pearl to the shells of eggs and molluscs."
"We aimed to explore the effects of various additives, their concentrations and reaction times. But it would have taken us about 200 days to make the 1,000 samples we wanted, plus the time needed to clean mountains of glassware."
"We realized that secondary schools use most of the chemicals needed, and so pupils, teachers and lab technicians might be able to help us."
"Today, amateur researchers can help to track endangered animals, record weather events and hunt for galaxies, showcasing the potential and impact of citizen science in various fields."
#citizen-science #education-in-chemistry #research-collaboration #stem-education #community-engagement
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