If you can’t find a local group operating in your area, there are plenty of other ways to get involved. Currently, a lot of community science is being done through mobile apps and platforms. The ever-evolving capabilities of smartphones can help to increase the volume and type of environmental data that can be collected by volunteers.

From AI-assisted species identification tools to water colour detection, many community science groups, university scientists, government agencies, and water technology companies and entrepreneurs have developed mobile apps to streamline and simplify freshwater monitoring.

Most apps are free to download from the Android and iOS app stores. Most apps prompt you to make observations using a combination of photos, fillable forms, and visual assessment of aquatic habitat.