Darlene Cavalier, a Morrisville native, created SciStarter to bridge the gap between professional science and the public and help those without a science degree contribute, writes Ian Campbell for Citizen Science.
Cavalier’s own foray into science was unconventional. While growing up in Bucks County, she was drawn to dancing and cheerleading.
After graduating, she began working for a local company that managed Discover Magazine’s awards program. Reading the award entries describing recent scientific breakthroughs and their human impact, helped her realize the potential and relevance of science.
When Disney acquired Discover Magazine, Cavalier transferred to New York to run the awards program. The magazine’s editor-in-chief suggested she return to school and explore how she could help advance science even without a degree.
She embraced the idea and enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she discovered the world of citizen science, where the public can contribute meaningfully to scientific research.
Wanting to make the process even easier, she started SciStarter as a simple WordPress blog and searchable database designed to create a bridge between professional science and the public.
Today, the site hosts thousands of projects and has recently surpassed 200,000 subscribers while serving millions of users.
Read more about how Darlene Cavalier’s SciStarter is connecting millions to hands-on science opportunities in Citizen Science.
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