PolliNation Citizen Science

The Environmental Interpretive Center welcomes individuals interested in Michigan pollinators to participate in the PolliNation Project.

Registered participants receive a free insect hotel! In return, we ask insect hotel owners to help collect data throughout the growing season on which species are using their hotel. Data collection can be done simply using two smartphone apps called PolliNation ID and PolliNation Hotels. These apps were developed by three UM-Dearborn computer science senior student design teams. The first app assists with pollinator identification whereas the second app shows the location of insect hotels and their respective pollinator visitors. 

As an insect hotel owner, you will:

• Provide nesting habitat for native species
• Learn which pollinators are visiting your garden and ways to attract them
• Collect data via two free apps produced by senior design teams at UM-Dearborn
• Contribute to knowledge on the impact of insect hotels on native and non-native bee species and other pollinators
• See which species and habitats are present in the community

The data collected by you will be analyzed by the EIC and used to generate reports on local pollinators which will be made available for the public. Sixteen local Dearborn public schools will also receive a large insect hotel funded by a Ford College Community Challenge Grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund to promote pollinator awareness and interest in the youngest members of our community.