Citizen Science harnesses the power of a large workforce while also providing new tools for engaging learners. Powerful consequences are both large-scale high-resolution datasets, otherwise prohibitively expensive, and informed citizens.

Taking this benefit to a new level, Citizen Action through Science (Citizen AcTS), aims to provide communities with scientific support to potentially develop projects that directly benefit them. The flagship project is the “Community Mosquito Control UP”, where residents of a Maryland township have organized to remove mosquito habitat from their yards and deploy traps that kill egg laying female mosquitoes. Their “action” is urban mosquito control, which will remove nuisance and decrease risk of Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases. Results from the 2017 active mosquito season are very encouraging. Manuscript summarizing the findings is out in Science Reports.

Please contact Dina Fonseca if your community would like to develop a Citizen AcTS program.

To remain updated on this project you can read the new posts on this website or visit Dina Fonseca’s ResearchGate “Helping Those that Help Themselves” project log.

University Park’s Fourth of July Parade

A BGS trap deployed

Backyard with a BGS trap

A Gravid Aedes Trap (GAT) deployed

All 30 BGS traps

Arlene and the GATs

BGS trap on right corner

A BGS trap deployed

Dead mosquitoes in the dome

Lush green front gardens

Citizen AcTS walking in the parade. Let Freedom Ring!

BGS surveillance

Front yards in DC

Residents getting hands-on training on GAT assembly

Comparison of oil and sticky paper