Citizen Science is an innovative program for all Bard students.
Through a 12-week program of study during one of their first two semesters, Bard students develop a core understanding of the full arc of science, from the way science is conducted in the lab through the creation of science based policies that influence the world around us. This broad foundation allows the STEM and non-STEM students, as citizens, to understand the role they all play as they grapple with the ever-increasing number of national and global issues influenced by science. Photo by Chris Kayden
The Program
Citizen Science is a 'first-of-its-kind', 'unique to Bard College' course focused on engaging students with their own scientific literacy. During this 12-week program, students work to access, validate, and integrate scientific findings into their daily lives by using real-world examples. Students will engage with not only how science is conducted, but how the findings from a scientific study make their way from the laboratory to the desk of policy makers and impact public discourse. During Citizen Science, Bard students, regardless of major, become constructive participants in the debate over, and the solutions to, critical global issues.