Legitimate Citizen Science Expeditions?
I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this so let me know if you have other suggestions.
I have an interest in nature/flora/fauna but did not end up choosing that as my career path due to many reasons. But my passion for these things is still very much alive and I was wondering if there are any projects that you know of that utilize volunteers for short trips to remote areas to assist in research. My ultimate goal is to take annual week long expeditions to study and collect data on different species with the opportunity to return to or be invited to different projects after building certain skill sets as a volunteer.
I have seen earthwatch online but I kind of get the impression that’s more of a fake/voluntourism organization that isn’t actually contributing to research. (Please correct me if I’m wrong). Are there any other organizations or methods of finding these opportunities that you know of from being in the industry?
It’s also possible that what I’m thinking of does not exist, in which case I’m open to any ideas you have that could get as close to that as possible. I really just want whatever I’m doing to actually contribute to research.