Fairmont State Elementary Education Student Joins Smithsonian Citizen Science Project to Preserve American History

Haley Zoladz, a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, and an Elementary Education major at Fairmont State University, recently completed a Citizen Science project for the Smithsonian Institution as part of an official SciStarter Citizen Science Month Event - Falcons on the Map: A Celebration of Citizen Science. Through the Smithsonian Digital Volunteers: Transcription Center, Zoladz contributed to the preservation and accessibility of historical documents by transcribing handwritten records into digital format. 

Citizen Science refers to public participation and collaboration in scientific research, where individuals without formal scientific training can contribute valuable data, insights, and analysis. These projects often span a wide range of fields—including astronomy, environmental science, history, biology, and more—and are supported by research institutions, nonprofits, and universities. Participants may collect environmental data, classify images, transcribe historical documents, or observe wildlife. Projects like the one Zoladz joined allow everyday people to play an active role in expanding scientific knowledge and preserving history. 

“By evaluating citizen science projects that connect to their majors and personal interests, Fairmont State University students are learning firsthand how geographic knowledge and geospatial technologies can drive real-world change - we are putting ourselves and our communities on the map,” said Assistant Professor of Geography, Dr. Barb MacLennan. “Fairmont State University students evaluate citizen science projects for clarity, impact, usability, and importance. From these evaluations, we create a curated list of the projects, like the Smithsonian Digital Volunteers, for a list of our favorite activities. We encourage the community to participate because not only is it fun, but also every observation, every entry, every photo—it all adds up, and each person's contribution has an aggregated impact which adds up to real scientific contributions.”  

The project, part of the America250 initiative through SciStarter, encourages citizen engagement in scientific and historical research leading up to the United States' 250th anniversary. Zoladz’s participation helped advance the Smithsonian’s mission of collaborative engagement, discovery, and increased access to historical archives. 

“What caught my eye about this project was the transcription process,” said Zoladz. “I grew up watching my grandmother type for her job, and typing became something I loved to do. So, when I found this project, I jumped at the chance to participate in something meaningful while doing something I enjoyed.” 

Zoladz transcribed documents related to celestial navigation, tying the work to space geography by referencing the absolute and relative positions of stars described in the historical texts. She noted the process was both intuitive and rewarding: “The Smithsonian site offered easy-to-understand tutorials, and within a short time, I was able to accurately transcribe and even review pages for others.” 

By helping transform fragile physical documents into permanent digital resources, Zoladz contributed to a growing digital archive that benefits researchers, educators, and the public. The documents she worked on will support American History research in areas including the Civil War era, women’s history, and broader American experiences. 

This project also exemplifies Fairmont State University’s vision of being a Great Place to Learn by encouraging students to pursue unique, hands-on opportunities that provide meaningful real-world experiences. Through institutional support and academic flexibility, students like Zoladz are empowered to engage in impactful work beyond the classroom—expanding their skills, perspectives, and civic involvement. 

Anyone interested in becoming a citizen scientist can explore opportunities through platforms like SciStarter.org, which connects individuals to hundreds of projects based on interests, skill levels, and availability. Projects can often be done from home with minimal equipment, making them accessible to students, educators, families, and lifelong learners. 

“This was a great experience for me as both a student and future educator,” she added. “I can envision using this kind of project in a fifth-grade classroom to teach typing, history, and civic engagement all at once.” 

Zoladz completed two full transcriptions and reviewed several others, contributing to the collective progress of the project. She encourages others—especially those with an interest in history or typing—to get involved. 

To learn more about how Fairmont State is engaging in Citizen Science, explore the Fairmont State GeoSavvy Guide at: https://library.fairmontstate.edu/GEOSAVVY.