Citizen Science and the Loss of the Natural World

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Roxanne Jones: I think humanity will survive what we're going through now. It's terrible, and it may get a lot worse. My biggest fear is that we will reduce by diversity to a handful of species like coyotes and rats. And then the flip side. What scares you most about the loss of the natural world right now? Well, people always ask me, but whether i think we're going to make it through this or not?"

When you think of a scientist, do you think of a person in a lab coat? How about a teenager with a smartphone-- or even, yourself? Mary Ellen Hannibal is a science writer who argues that everyday people collecting data with simple tools like phones can make a big impact in the sciences, their lives, and their communities. She shares great tips on how to get involved with this vital, and hopefully enjoyable, work. Her book, “Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction”, was named one of the best titles of 2016 by the San Francisco Chronicle. Mary Ellen’s previous work has appeared in the New York Times, Science, Anthropocene, Nautilus and many other publications. To learn more about "How to Be a Better Human," host Chris Duffy, or find footnotes and additional resources, please visit: go.ted.com/betterhuman