Community Science Network
The Community Science Network (CSN) at CIS is an initiative designed around creating meaningful opportunities to engage with real scientific research- no prior experience required. Through hands-on workshops, field-based experiences, and collaborative projects, participants will explore local ecosystems, on-going global community science projects, and ways to contribute to meaningful data collection at various scales.
If you’re looking for a new way to connect with science, this initiative is designed to make doing science accessible, social, and impactful.
Programs and events are launching soon. Join our mailing list to be the first to know.
Project BEACON
Project BEACON (Biodiversity and Environmental Assessment of Community Observations at Night) is the in-house, flagship community science research project for CIS. BEACON is focused on gaining a deeper understanding of how artificial light at night affects insect communities in metro Detroit. As light pollution continues to rapidly expand on a global scale, the impact this has on nocturnal species remains one of the most rapidly changing, and least understood, environmental challenges.
BEACON aims to expand our understanding of the nocturnal ecosystem through guided observation, data collection and hands-on field experiences in both ecology and astronomy. Just as importantly, BEACON aims to shift how we think about the night—not as something to illuminate and overlook, but as a vital, dynamic ecosystem worth observing, understanding, and protecting.
This project is funded via ASTC and iNaturalist’s Seeding Action program, and in partnership with Oakland County Parks.
As a Project BEACON community scientist, you’ll spend the evening helping collect real ecological data in Oakland County parks while exploring how artificial light at night shapes our experience of the nighttime environment. Participants will assist with setting and monitoring insect traps, recording sky brightness measurements, contributing nighttime biodiversity observations through iNaturalist, and participating in insect sheeting activities that may attract moths, beetles, caddisflies, and other nocturnal insects. Throughout the evening, participants will also observe and listen for bats and other nighttime wildlife while taking part in guided astronomical observations of the moon, stars, constellations, and seasonal celestial objects.
Beyond data collection, Project BEACON asks participants to slow down and intentionally experience the night. Through guided journaling prompts, photography, and personal reflection, community scientists will document how their perceptions of darkness, safety, wildlife, sound, and the night sky shift throughout the project. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on questions like: What do we notice when artificial light is removed? How does darkness change the way we experience nature? What nighttime species and sounds are normally hidden from us? These reflections will become part of the project’s larger StoryMap and outreach efforts connecting scientific research with personal experience. All participants must attend one training session on either June 12 or June 18 (~8:00–11:00pm). The main project night will take place on June 27 (~8:00–11:00pm).
Space for Project BEACON is limited and advance registration is required. Participants should register using the link below and select one of the two required training dates (June 12 or June 18). Additional details about meeting locations, what to bring, accessibility considerations, and project materials will be shared with registered participants prior to the event. We welcome participants with all levels of experience — whether you are new to community science or already love insects, astronomy, photography, or nighttime ecology.
Project Beacon Partners:
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CSN Workshops
Our CSN Workshops are designed to give adults the tools, skills, and confidence to actively participate in real scientific research. Through hands-on sessions, participants will learn how to observe, document, and contribute meaningful data to ongoing studies.
Workshop topics will include insect identification, nighttime observation techniques, astronomy, pollinator observation, digital community science initiatives, birding, and using tools like iNaturalist to record and share findings. Each experience is built to be approachable, practical, and grounded in real-world applications.
Whether you're new to science or looking to deepen your involvement, these workshops will prepare you to take part in community science projects—at the museum and beyond.
More details and workshop dates coming soon.
Grow Wild Garden
Grow Wild is a hands-on community science initiative centered around our pollinator garden, where participants can explore the relationships between plants, insects, and local ecosystems. This space will serve as both a living habitat and an outdoor classroom—supporting pollinators while creating opportunities for observation, data collection, and skill-building.
More details coming soon.