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.

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

Search for opportunities on SciStarter. On this online citizen science hub, you can learn about and contribute to real science through recreational activities and research.
Visit a public library to get in-person help finding citizen and community science opportunities.
Browse opportunities on Zooniverse, an online platform where the public can help drive research, science, and knowledge.

LAST UPDATED: July 31, 2025