Connect your organization’s mission to real-world science by introducing visitors to GLOBE Observer, the app of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment Program. GLOBE Observer can be integrated into programming at museums, science centers, zoos and aquariums, parks, public gardens, libraries and more. Simply engage visitors with a smartphone or tablet, integrate GLOBE Observer into an existing talk or demo, or create a new cart or event centered around the app.

It’s easy to get started with GLOBE Observer. Simply download the app, register for an account and plan your program using the resources included below. In this toolkit, you will find information, activities and resources for each of the app modules. In the Advanced section, you can find more information on topics such as organizing an event and becoming a GLOBE partner. Have a question? Contact us.

Choose Your Protocol

Advanced

Localized Data Requests

Is there a particular issue at your site that you’re interested in collecting data on? Perhaps you’d like visitors to report dust storms with the Clouds tool or river ice conditions with the Land Cover tool. Consider proposing a data request project. Once your project is approved, a notification will appear in the app to inform visitors of an active data request. You can include additional details and instructions on your project page. Learn more and apply for a data request.

Using the App Offline

No connection? No problem! The GLOBE Observer app can be used offline as long as the user has created an account and completed the in-app trainings. Once back online, they will need to submit their data. If you have a visitor center with public Wi-Fi this is a great place to encourage visitors to download the app

GLOBE Teams

A GLOBE Team is a group of citizen scientists working together as an organization. Teams can be used to set up a competition, coordinate a community’s citizen science efforts, support an educational or corporate initiative, or as part of a volunteer program to foster environmental data collection focused on a particular communities needs. Teams may include GLOBE schools and GLOBE Observer volunteer scientists. Anyone can form or join a GLOBE team. The team landing page includes a summary of how many members are on the team (including their screen names), how much data the team has collected, and links to the data collected. For facilitators, the team capability can be used to track engagement or participation in your programs. You will be able to see how many people join the team, and how many use GLOBE Observer to take observations.

Exhibits and Displays

Interested in developing an exhibit or permanent display about citizen science? We'd like to help. Contact us for helpful resources and tips.

GLOBE Partners

GLOBE Partners (Country Coordinators and U.S. Partners) facilitate the implementation of GLOBE in their country or within a service area of their country. Partners recruit GLOBE schools, as well as provide training opportunities and mentoring activities for GLOBE teachers to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery. In the U.S., nonprofit or governmental organizations, whose priorities focus on support of student inquiry and research about the environment, are invited to become U.S. GLOBE Partners.

Accessing, Using and Sharing Data

GLOBE data are all made freely available to everyone. Visualizing and retrieving data are the easiest way to explore GLOBE data. The capability provided includes various maps, graphs, and data tables. Users may download data for use in their own analysis systems.