More than a million people die each year from mosquito-borne diseases including malaria and dengue. Local communities in disease-infected areas play an important role in mosquito research.
Since its inception more than 25 years ago, GLOBE has been a program aimed to teach students and the general public about Earth system research, as well as to allow individuals to participate in research in an authentic and relevant way. When the GLOBE Observer (GO) app released the Mosquito Habitat Mapper function in 2017, volunteers may submit their observations of mosquito populations, including habitat description, larvae counts, and pictures of habitats and specimens.
It doesn’t matter if a volunteer is able or interested in participating in the Mosquito Habitat Mapper program. Without an Internet connection, volunteer scientists can record their findings, and they can answer as many or as few questions as they like at any particular time. “I’m not sure” decreases the chance of making mistakes through guessing.
Using data from the first three years of the Mosquito Habitat Mapper application, Low et al. demonstrate that data sets generated from the public contribute to scientific study in a clear and concise manner. Using this data source for a specific experiment is a matter of determining whether or not the methodology and specifics of the experiment are well-documented. During the first three years of its existence, the tool received over 24,000 reports.
Scientists will appreciate the initiative, but so will the app’s users’ communities. The tool teaches volunteers about the science of mosquito life cycles, empowering them to make informed decisions regarding mosquito management in their communities. It also urges users to take action against mosquito populations directly. In order to prevent mosquitoes from becoming bloodsucking adults, it advises mitigating measures such as covering or removing containers of standing water. To combat mosquito-borne disease outbreaks, this easy-to-use tool empowers local residents to play a critical role.
