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.
CSN Workshops
Our CSN Workshops are designed to give adults (18+) 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.
These workshops are intended exclusively for participants 18 years of age and older. By registering, attendees confirm that they and everyone who will be attending the workshop meet this age requirement.
To ensure an appropriate learning environment for all participants, we reserve the right to cancel and refund registrations for individuals under the age of 18. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain the intended experience for all attendees.
Pricing:
- $25/person/workshop for Not-yet Members
- $21.25/person/workshop for Members
- Register for all six workshops and get one FREE! ($125/person for Not-yet Members; $106.25/person for Members)
Insect Identification Workshop: Identifying Emergent Aquatic and Shoreline Insects
11am - 1pm, August 9, 2026
Learn to identify common emergent aquatic insects and nearshore terrestrial insects collected through Project BEACON. Participants will help sort and catalog specimens while gaining practical identification skills used in freshwater ecology and biodiversity research.
iNaturalist at Cranbrook: Mapping Campus Biodiversity
Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 11:00am - 1:00pm
Explore natural areas across the Cranbrook campus while learning how to make high-quality observations with iNaturalist. The workshop will contribute to an ongoing effort to document and better understand the biodiversity present on campus.
Community Science in Astronomy: Astronomy beyond the Telescope
Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 11:00am - 1:00pm
Discover the many ways volunteers can participate in astronomy and space-related community science projects. Participants will also be able to visit the observatory as part of this experience.
Virtual and Game-based Community Science: Contributing to Research from Anywhere
Sunday, January 10, 2027 | 11:00am - 1:00pm
Explore community science projects that can be completed virtually, including online platforms and game-based research initiatives. Learn how people are contributing to real scientific discoveries from home.
Michigan Invasive Species: Identification and reporting with MISIN
Sunday, March 7, 2027 | 11:00am - 1:00pm
Learn to recognize some of Michigan’s most significant invasive species and how to report observations through the MISIN network. This workshop will focus on practical identification skills and the role of community reporting in conservation and management.
Community Science for Pollinator Conservation: Monitoring Pollinators and Building Habitat
Sunday, May 2, 2027 | 11:00am - 1:00pm
Learn about community science initiatives focused on pollinators and how volunteers can contribute meaningful observations. Participants will also help inform early planning for the Grow Wild Garden, a new habitat and outdoor learning space coming to CIS in Summer 2027.
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 (8:30–10:00pm). The main project night will take place on June 27 (~8:00–11:00pm).
Project BEACON registration is now closed. Please consider signing up for our Community Science mailing list for further opportunities to participate.
Project Beacon Partners:
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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.