This presentation examines four critical areas where citizen science can transform entomological research: leveraging existing agricultural systems, studying insect evolution, developing high-throughput phenotyping platforms, and providing alternative funding models. First, drawing from insights generated by a multidisciplinary working group I led that evaluated citizen science roles in agriculture and food systems research, I will demonstrate how leveraging established Extension program infrastructure, particularly through 4-H networks and urban communities, can effectively scale citizen science contributions to agricultural entomology. Second, using a global project I founded as a case study, I will illustrate how distributed data collection across international networks can generate datasets that provide temporal and spatial resolution that enhance our understanding of species invasion dynamics and evolutionary processes. Third, I will present an example of citizen science applications in high-throughput phenotyping through a pilot project that engaged local communities in systematic collection of butterfly life history data across multiple species. Finally, I will outline opportunities to use citizen science for developing alternative funding models that could prove essential for the long-term sustainability of entomological research programs. These four domains collectively demonstrate how citizen science methodologies can address fundamental challenges in contemporary entomological research while fostering broader public engagement with scientific processes. The integration of citizen science approaches offers pathways to enhance research capacity, expand geographic scope, and increase community relevance while potentially transforming traditional funding paradigms in entomological sciences.
.png)
