Getting involved with biological research can seem like a daunting task. However, the barriers to entry are often lower than people realize. In this short article, we will cover practical advice for how to get involved with biological research, without needing a degree or diploma. Before we begin, there are a few caveats with researching without a degree. 

1. What you are able to get started in may be limited. 

2. Many resources may only be accessible to those affiliated with a university.

3. Creativity, flexibility, and patience are required.

Key Information: YOU will have to put in the effort to find and reach out to opportunities. Many are informally run, not well marketed, or not advertised at all! You will be surprised how many doors open with a simple email. Use the following avenues to find ways to reach out. I've also included a few ways to hone research skills independently.

If you consider the number of volunteers assisting with biodiversity related projects around the world, you could make a convincing case that NOT having a degree is the standard for helping in biology research. Many natural areas conduct regular monitoring of their wildlife populations. Reach out to local parks, preserves, and nature centers to see if they can get you in touch with their staff or collaborators. There may be bird spotting, invasive plants surveys, or restoration work you can directly contribute to

I believe no matter where you live, you should get involved locally.

If you want to do research, reach out to researchers! I promise, most professors are far friendlier than you'd expect and may already have a local project you can help with. Just be aware, Academics are notorious for a high email load and are likely to miss your message. You may need to reach out repeatedly.

You may also ask to join a paper discussion. Even if you don't know anything about the paper, just being present can be a great way to understand how scientific research is consumed and discussed. 

To find professors, go to a local college's webpage, find the relevant department and see their list of faculty and researchers. From there you can reach out directly to labs that seem interesting.  

Literature review is a standard skill for any biologist. Where we are able to take published work, and distill it factually. Did you know Wikipedia has projects that assess the quality of webpages? And thousands of species are missing pages on Wikipedia entirely? Sharpen your research skills and help open knowledge by becoming a free contributor on Wikipedia and tackling a few pages related to your interests. 

For example, here the task list for the Amphibian and Reptiles project

Wikipedia requires citations for all claims made on their website. To access those without being part of a university, join your local library to get access to field guides, journal articles, and other scientific publications. Ask a librarian there to help you access research materials. Your neighborhood librarian is also a great resource to find local research opportunities. 

If you have internet, you have access to a near limitless amount of data. As well as a wealth of tutorials teaching you how to analyze it. If your interests are in biodiversity, I would recommend playing around with the data in GBIF, narrowing your research onto a specific taxonomic group or region. You can explore the data visually and form qualitative conclusions. More advanced analyses can b great way to learn necessary skills for analyzing data. Here we have a tutorial for accessing GBIF. Data can be analyzed in R and RStudio (both free). Here is a tutorial for getting started, with links to a free R textbook.  

Many of the routes above may be involved in Community Science. These typically involve a local scientist organizing help from the local community on collecting or analyzing data. There is also a wide array of remote community science projects available! Learn Adventurously occasionally has community science projects announced in our newsletter. If there are none, consider starting a simple project with a local facility. Even keeping track of the wildlife you see in a systematic way can be reported to local agencies.

The Xerces society has a list of community science projects they make available.

These opportunities should help you get started!