SMD E/PO :: Project :: NAI: Astrobiology Citizen Science (PSU)

Program Element / Activity Title:

NAI: Astrobiology Citizen Science (PSU)

E/PO Project Name:

NASA Astrobiology Institute

Contact Information Shown to the Public:

Bldg. 247, Rm. 207 P.O. Box 1 Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001

Program Element / Activity Website:

http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/

Short Description for Projects Page:

This project engages citizen scientists in a study of microbial diversity in distributed domestic water heaters. It's purpose is to look at the genetic differences from isolates of similar microbes from across the globe to understand the degree to which populations of microbes are isolated and whether this isolation suggests an allopatric speciation model for prokaryotes. Two-three interested households per state in the US will complete a questionnaire and submit samples back to labs at Penn State where the data will be compiled and analyzed.

Who is the primary audience of your program element / activity?:

Who is the secondary audience of your program element / activity?:

General Public

National Priorities and Coordination Approaches as Articulated in CoSTEM:

Increase and Sustain Youth and Public Engagement in STEM