Great Opportunity to Greatly Improve Your Invasive Plant ID and Monitoring Skills!

What?

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking citizens to participate in a study of a citizen scientist program.  Citizen science is defined as "a partnership between volunteers and scientists to answer real world questions" and typically involves large-scale scientific data collection.  This study is part of an effort to determine the knowledge and skills gained by citizens who participate in a national invasive species training and monitoring program.  The study will consist of a two-day training event.  The subjects taught will include invasive species, Global Positioning System (GPS) use, plant identification, plant monitoring protocols, and the use of our website deigned to map the locations of invasive plants nationwide.  Food will be provided!

When?

The study will be held at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum on May 30-31, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin.  Rain dates are June 13-14, 2009.  Consider joining the Invasive Plants Association for an informative and entertaining evening at the Arboretum on May 30 (more information at ipaw.org).

How?

We would greatly appreciate your participation in any way you can; there are three ways to help:

(1)  Join our in-person training Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum and then demonstrate your newly acquired skills in the field at the same location, May 31st, 2009!
(2)  Join our online training and view training at your leisure at home on your personal computer between May 23 rd and May 29th, 2009 and then demonstrate your newly acquired skills Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at the Arboretum.
(3)  Can't do either 1 or 2? Join our control group and complete our short questionnaire to help us determine the general understanding of the subjects being taught.

You can inform us of your level of interest by filling out a questionnaire
found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=bwHS2v2h1oSp540_2bwx_2bQ5A_3d_3d. If you have any questions or comments about this study, please contact Alycia Crall (970-227-3310; crall@...).  We will be contacting you with more details about the event as the date approaches!  Thank you very much for your help with this fun (and important) volunteer opportunity!