A Surprising Discovery in the Backyard — How a 5th-Grade Student Contributed to My Research

About the Author: Prof. Amram Eshel is the lead scientist on the “Mystery of the Bermuda buttercup” project. When I launched the “Mystery of the Bermuda buttercup” project, I knew I was embarking on a fascinating journey, but I never imagined just how critical a role the public would play in it. The Bermuda buttercup is a well-known invasive plant in Israel, but until now, no variety capable of producing seeds in the country was known to exist. My goal was to enlist the public in collecting data to determine whether such a variety exists in the area. At one of the schools in Jerusalem, a science teacher presented the project to fifth-grade students, who learned how to identify different varieties of the Bermuda buttercup. They went on field trips in their neighborhood, searching for plants near their homes. One of the students, who was examining the vegetation in a garden near his home in the southern part of the city, noticed something unusual. The knowledge he had acquired in class enabled him to identify a type of sorrel that had not been known in Israel until then. The student didn’t hesitate. He photographed the plant, reported it to his teacher, and sent him the photo. The teacher, recognizing the importance of the discovery, forwarded the information to me via email. When I opened the message and saw the photo, I immediately realized this was a significant finding. The very next day, I drove to the site, met with the student and the teacher, and saw with my own eyes the plant the student had discovered. This discovery was a significant milestone in the project. I wouldn’t have found it on my own, and it was living proof that citizen science can yield important discoveries. The event reinforced my understanding that collaborative research with the public is not only possible, it is essential. Beyond that, it was also inspiring, to see how a fifth-grader takes an interest, applies scientific thinking, and contributes to a real research process. Now, with this new information, we can explore how to prevent the spread of this new invasive plant species to other areas of the country. This case proves that science isn't the exclusive domain of academic researchers, and anyone can contribute, even an 11-year-old boy who pays close attention to his surroundings.