Ideas worth spreading

How you can help save the monarch butterfly -- and the planet

1,155,553 views |

Mary Ellen Hannibal |

TEDWomen 2019

• December 2019

Monarch butterflies are dying at an alarming rate around the world -- a looming extinction that could also put human life at risk. But we have just the thing to help save these insects, says author Mary Ellen Hannibal: citizen scientists. Learn how these grassroots volunteers are playing a crucial role in measuring and rescuing the monarch's dwindling population -- and how you could join their ranks to help protect nature. (You'll be in good company: Charles Darwin was a citizen scientist!)

Monarch butterflies are dying at an alarming rate around the world -- a looming extinction that could also put human life at risk. But we have just the thing to help save these insects, says author Mary Ellen Hannibal: citizen scientists. Learn how these grassroots volunteers are playing a crucial role in measuring and rescuing the monarch's dwindling population -- and how you could join their ranks to help protect nature. (You'll be in good company: Charles Darwin was a citizen scientist!)

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Join Mary Ellen Hannibal and Dr. Rebecca Johnson for a discussion on the art, science and soul of citizen science, based on Hannibal's book Citizen Scientist.

Become a citizen scientist by participating in the City Nature Challenge.

Join a community of citizen scientists helping track the impact of COVID-19 and develop a vaccine.

About the speaker

Mary Ellen Hannibal

Mary Ellen Hannibal

Author, journalist

See speaker profile

In her book "Citizen Scientist," Mary Ellen Hannibal traces the origins of today’s tech-savvy citizen science movement back through centuries of amateur observations by writers and naturalists.

Mary Ellen Hannibal | The Experiment, 2017 | Book

Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction

Big data meets personal anguish in this recruiting manual for a new type of exploration. History, science and literature inform a hero's journey — not starring one person, but all of us, saving nature together.

Joseph Campbell, Phil Cousineau (editor) | New World Library, 1990 | Book

The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work

An accessible introduction to the life and times of the world mythologizer who told us, "Myth is nature talking."

John Steinbeck | Penguin Books, 1941 | Book

The Log from the Sea of Cortez

John Steinbeck was a citizen scientist as well as a Nobel prize-winning author. This expedition journal was co-created with his great friend Ed Ricketts, who advocated "toto thinking." Ricketts also influenced Campbell and generations of marine biologists to see with new eyes, across boundaries.

Catherine Hoffman | Timber Press, 2020 | Book

The Field Guide to Citizen Science

Fifty projects, focused on everything from climate change to Alzheimer's disease, welcome contributions by regular people.

| Explore

Citizen science

Species are going extinct at an accelerated rate, which also puts human life in peril. Making scientific observations of species using vetted citizen science platforms helps to focus on where and how nature needs help. The practice of observation also connects our personal journeys with the amazing beauties and deep realities of Earth's other life forms. Here are five great places to start: City Nature Challenge, iNaturalist, Journey North, The Xerces Society and SciStarter.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Join Mary Ellen Hannibal and Dr. Rebecca Johnson for a discussion on the art, science and soul of citizen science, based on Hannibal's book Citizen Scientist.

Become a citizen scientist by participating in the City Nature Challenge.

Join a community of citizen scientists helping track the impact of COVID-19 and develop a vaccine.