How to find a citizen science opportunity

Government agencies and other organizations can help you find a volunteer opportunity in citizen science. Also known as participatory science, explore how and where you can take part and make a difference.

Find volunteer opportunities in government

How to join citizen science projects managed by the federal government

Volunteer.gov is the central place to find information about volunteer opportunities in the federal government. Learn about the government agencies that need your time and talent to meet their mission.

Search Volunteer.gov

Discover ways to participate at the federal level

Many federal agencies share citizen science and other volunteer opportunities on their websites.

Agency

Volunteer opportunities

Bureau of Land Management

Citizen science at BLM

Census Bureau

The Opportunity Project at Census

Department of Health and Human Services

InnovationX at HHS

Environmental Protection Agency

Participatory science at EPA

Fish and Wildlife Service

Volunteer opportunities at FWS

Forest Service

Citizen science at the Forest Service

Library of Congress

Virtual volunteer opportunities at LOC

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Citizen science at NASA

National Archives and Records Administration

Citizen archivist program at NARA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Volunteer and citizen science opportunities at NOAA

National Park Service

Citizen science at NPS

Smithsonian Institute

Participatory science at the Smithsonian

U.S. Geological Survey

Citizen science at USGS

Discover ways to participate at the state level

Find citizen science opportunities in your state or territory's government.

  1. Visit your state government website and look for a "citizen science," "participatory science," or "volunteer" link.

  2. If there isn’t a link on the website, search the website using those terms.

Find other volunteer opportunities

Use keywords, topics of interest, and location to search for volunteer opportunities.

LAST UPDATED: July 31, 2025

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