The Tiger Mosquito Citizen Science (TIMO-CS) project complements WECHU's routine mosquito monitoring efforts while providing students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities. (FILE/University of Windsor)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
University of Windsor students are helping turn mosquito season into an opportunity for scientific discovery through an engaging project tracking an invasive species found in Windsor-Essex.
Now in its third year, the Tiger Mosquito Citizen Science (TIMO-CS) project is led by Dr. Victoria Ng of the Public Health Agency of Canada in partnership with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) and UWindsor's Let's Talk Science outreach program. The initiative complements WECHU's routine mosquito monitoring efforts while providing students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities.
Since the tiger mosquito was first identified in Essex County in 2016, researchers have been working to better understand its distribution throughout the region. This summer, the project is expanding its sample collection efforts and inviting members of the UWindsor community to participate.
For Michelle Bondy, experiential learning specialist in the School of the Environment, the project highlights the powerful intersection of education, research and community engagement.
"This project is a wonderful example of experiential learning in action," says Bondy.
"Our students are contributing to important public health research while helping community members learn about mosquito safety, life cycles and identification."
UWindsor students volunteering with Let's Talk Science have been delivering outreach workshops in local classrooms and summer camps. Through hands-on activities, participants learn how to identify mosquito species, understand their life cycles and take steps to protect themselves during mosquito season.
Beyond the classroom, UWindsor students, faculty and staff have spent the past two summers supporting the project by setting up 3D-printed mosquito traps in their backyards to collect samples for researchers.
This year, researchers are making it even easier for community members to contribute.
Volunteers can participate simply by collecting mosquitoes they encounter while spending time outdoors in Windsor-Essex. Participants will be provided with small plastic collection tubes and asked to gently swat any mosquito that lands on them before placing it in the tube and storing it in their freezer until it can be collected by the research team.
"Citizen science works because everyone can play a role," says Dr. Ng.
"Whether you're gardening, walking the dog or enjoying time outside, collecting a mosquito may seem like a small contribution, but it provides valuable information that helps us better understand invasive species in our community."
Once collected, the samples will be identified by Ng using an AI-powered mosquito identification system, providing researchers with important data about which mosquito species are present across Windsor-Essex.
With July and August representing peak mosquito season, Bondy hopes members of the UWindsor community will consider lending a hand.
Individuals interested in participating can pick up a free mosquito collection kit and learn more about the project by contacting Michelle Bondy at mbondy@uwindsor.ca.
The study will continue through September, offering plenty of opportunities to contribute to this community-driven research effort.