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.
More details and key dates coming soon.
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.