Research
Joining ecological and social science to understand people and nature
Our research program uncovers the dynamics of our complex and interconnected human and natural systems. Through social and behavioral science we investigate what shifts collective behaviors towards supporting and restoring nature. As a global hub for participatory science, we transform crowdsourced data into ecological insights and study how volunteer data-sharing can fuel biodiversity and human well-being. Further, we engage our audiences to study and inform best practices for engaging the public in scientific research.
Social Science Research
Resources
Our social science research team harnesses behavioral science and other disciplines to study human/nature interactions as well as the motivations, challenges, and successes related to engaging in birding and bird conservation activities. Results from these studies inform how we support individuals and communities in taking bird-friendly actions such as turning lights out during migration, making windows more visible to birds, keeping cats indoors, and creating and maintaining gardens for birds. Current projects include testing conservation messaging, understanding the relationship between nature connection and well-being, and exploring how factors like knowledge and identity influence conservation action.
Ecological Research
Resources
By bringing scientists and the public together, we engage tens of thousands of people in reporting their observations to the Cornell Lab through our participatory science projects. Our enormous and long-term data sets are increasingly used to tackle a suite of questions in ecology. These data are also used to understand the dynamics of socio-ecological systems. Participatory science data are freely available for anyone to use.
Scientists from the Cornell Lab and around the world analyze our datasets, publish in scientific journals, contribute to popular publications, and collaborate on educational resources in order to share findings stemming from programs like Project FeederWatch, NestWatch, and the Great Backyard Bird Count.
The Science of Participatory Science
Resources
As a pioneer in the practice of engaging the public in science, the Cornell Lab continues to explore novel ways of creatively bringing researchers and the public together to benefit science and enrich the experience of the people who engage in our programs. We study motivations and barriers to engagement, and ask a suite of questions to inform practitioners in participatory science. Does contributing data help people gain knowledge and understanding of the natural world or of the scientific process? Does engagement result in changes in attitudes, skills, or behaviors that help birds and their habitats? How do we better support participants and encourage long-term engagement? How do we improve the quality of the data collected and the experience of participation?
Ultimately, we are interested in delivering insights and best practices that help participatory science projects thrive.