PERENNIAL ATLAS Interest Form
Perennial Atlas Project
Perennial Atlas, a new civic science research activity at The Land Institute, is a three–year project that will engage up to 250 civic scientists across the United States. The core focus of this project will be to build a geographic atlas based on the data submitted by civic scientists, with the goal of advancing scientific research and creating a visual representation for civic scientists to illustrate how their work contributes to our research goals in perennial grain agriculture.
This project will feature three different perennial grains:
- Silphium
- Sainfoin
- Lewis flax
And their annual counterparts:
- Annual sunflower
- Soybeans
- Common flax
Civic scientists will be asked to plant, maintain, and make observations on a research plot that they set up in their yard, community garden, school, or anywhere where they might have access.
We expect to start onboarding in late 2023 and begin planting in 2024. Individuals of all backgrounds are encouraged to participate. No prior experience with gardening or agriculture is required – only an interest in research and learning, a place to grow a garden-sized plot of plants for three consecutive years, and a desire to try and stick with the project.
What is Civic Science?
Civic science is a way for people in multiple locations to learn together as they each grow, care for, and study perennial grain crops. Civic Science weaves together science, story, and community, using public engagement as the foundation to democratize research by supporting diverse individuals and civic groups — not only large research universities and corporations — to participate in the responsibilities and rewards of collaborative scientific inquiry and discovery.
If you are interested in participating in the Perennial Atlas Project, click here to fill out the Interest Form.
Learn More:
PERENNIAL ATLAS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS