Canada Aviation and Space Museum
A Senator and a Citizen Scientist
A satellite image of the Patuxent River (image credit: NASA).
Senator Bernie Fowler from Maryland, USA has been measuring the clarity of the water in the Patuxent River every June for the last 30 years. His chosen method of measurement? White sneakers. He wades into the river until he cannot see his white sneakers anymore and then records how deep the water is at that point. Some years he can wade in much further than others. What began as a simple test of the health of Maryland's waters has turned into a 30 year long citizen science and public outreach project. And June 2017 marks the 30th anniversary. Watch for the next data point to appear on his website.
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A Senator and a Citizen Scientist
Jesse Rogerson, PhD
Jesse is a passionate scientist, educator, and science communicator. As an assistant professor at York University in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society, he teaches three classes: History of Astronomy, Introduction to Astronomy, and Exploring the Solar System. He frequently collaborates with the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and lends his expert voice to the Ingenium Channel. Jesse is an astrophysicist, and his research explores how super massive black holes evolve through time. Whether in the classroom, through social media, or on TV, he encourages conversations about how science and society intersect, and why science is relevant in our daily lives.
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