Angela Corlett, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) Herbarium volunteer and member of the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, was recently recognized by Notes from Nature for completing their one-millionth transcription. Notes from Nature, part of the Zooniverse.org platform, is an international citizen science project with volunteers from 175 countries. Zooniverse volunteers transcribe historical documents to help make the data available digitally and to preserve it for future generations.
Angela has been entering specimen label data in the Notes from Nature website for a Benton and Washington county inventory project led by the ANHC. The millionth transcription was from a specimen of rare Ozark endemic corn-salad (Valerianella ozarkana), which is in the same family as honeysuckle. Ozark corn-salad blooms in April to May in calcareous glades.
When asked about her motivation for volunteering, Angela explained that she's had a lifelong love for nature and learning. She says that as a child, her grandmother taught her to always be thankful for what she's been given and to give back.
The Notes from Nature Project provides volunteers the opportunity to make a scientifically important contribution toward the common goal of conserving, and making available, knowledge about natural and cultural heritage. According to Notes from Nature "every transcription that is completed brings us closer to filling gaps in our knowledge of global biodiversity and natural heritage." By focusing on scientific value and outcomes, the Notes from Nature Project has organized their efforts into "expeditions" that volunteers can join, and in the process meet and help museum staff and biodiversity scientists working on different parts of a bigger puzzle.
Zooniverse is the world's largest platform for people-powered research. This research is made possible by volunteers — hundreds of thousands of people around the world who come together to assist professional researchers. Zooniverse strives to enable research that would not be possible, or practical, otherwise.
Photos:
Main photo — Angela Corlett, ANHC Herbarium volunteer and member of the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, stops to smile for the camera while working on herbarium transcription in the lab at the ANHC offices.
Photo at right — Angela Corlett, ANHC Herbarium volunteer and member of the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, works on transcription in the lab at the ANHC offices.
Angela has been entering specimen label data in the Notes from Nature website for a Benton and Washington county inventory project led by the ANHC. The millionth transcription was from a specimen of rare Ozark endemic corn-salad (Valerianella ozarkana), which is in the same family as honeysuckle. Ozark corn-salad blooms in April to May in calcareous glades. When asked about her motivation for volunteering, Angela explained that she's had a lifelong love for nature and learning. She says that as a child, her grandmother taught her to always be thankful for what she's been given and to give back.
The Notes from Nature Project provides volunteers the opportunity to make a scientifically important contribution toward the common goal of conserving, and making available, knowledge about natural and cultural heritage. According to Notes from Nature "every transcription that is completed brings us closer to filling gaps in our knowledge of global biodiversity and natural heritage." By focusing on scientific value and outcomes, the Notes from Nature Project has organized their efforts into "expeditions" that volunteers can join, and in the process meet and help museum staff and biodiversity scientists working on different parts of a bigger puzzle.
Zooniverse is the world's largest platform for people-powered research. This research is made possible by volunteers — hundreds of thousands of people around the world who come together to assist professional researchers. Zooniverse strives to enable research that would not be possible, or practical, otherwise.
Photos:
Main photo — Angela Corlett, ANHC Herbarium volunteer and member of the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, stops to smile for the camera while working on herbarium transcription in the lab at the ANHC offices.
Photo at right — Angela Corlett, ANHC Herbarium volunteer and member of the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, works on transcription in the lab at the ANHC offices.