This story was originally published in our March/April 2022 issue. Click here to subscribe to read more stories like this one.
She didn’t want to be a scientist when she grew up. As a kid, Darlene Cavalier was more interested in cheerleading and dancing than in learning how to crunch numbers and snag awards at science fairs. “I was a good student,” she explains. But science just wasn’t her thing.
That might seem like an unexpected start for someone like Cavalier, who’s since made her mark on the lives of countless scientists and their work. Today, she’s the founder and director of SciStarter, a national organization that connects citizen scientists with established researchers working on large-scale, data-driven projects. She’s also the founder of Science Cheerleader, an organization for current and former professional cheerleaders pursuing careers in science.
At the heart of Cavalier’s work is a common thread: a mission to connect scientists and the public. Over the years, she has worked with Discover on a variety of projects to advance that mission, including a new collaboration to support ScienceNearMe.org, a web and mobile platform connecting families and the general public with opportunities to explore and engage in science from anywhere. She knows firsthand the joy and wonder that can go into learning about discoveries that impact everyday life — only she takes things a step further to help everyday people participate in hose discoveries. We caught up with Cavalier to learn more about the expanding field of citizen science, why it matters, and how you can get involved.
