🔬 Medical Minute with Dr. Rob Gillio:
Citizen Science Month: One Health, One Planet, One Purpose

👋 Hi, I’m Dr. Rob Gillio, Chief Medical Officer for the Force for Health Network.

April is Citizen Science Month, and I want to share something close to my heart — a story about how my family, like many others, became part of something much bigger than ourselves.

🚀 From Earth to Space: A Family of Citizen Scientists
Years ago, my children and I took part in three citizen science experiments that were also happening in space — aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.

These hands-on experiences helped students — my own included — explore how science in space could improve food production on Mars, sustainability on Earth, and inspire real-life career paths in STEM and health sciences.

🛠️ Science in Your Hands
Today, we all carry powerful scientific tools right in our pockets — smartphones, sensors, GPS, cameras.

We can use these to:

Monitor the health of streams, rivers, and oceans
Track the spread of invasive species or pollution
Measure changes in air quality and soil health
Contribute to climate, wildlife, and health research
Every observation matters. Your data becomes part of our collective understanding.

🌍 One Health. One Planet. One Human Population.
Citizen science connects us all. It reminds us that human health, animal health, and environmental health are interwoven — and protecting one means protecting them all.

Your curiosity and commitment can lead to discoveries, solutions, and a healthier world for all of us.

💡 Let’s take action together.

Get involved. Download a citizen science app. Join a project with your school, family, or community. Explore the planet — and protect it — one observation at a time.

Learn it. Live it. Share it.

I’m Dr. Rob Gillio — thanks for being a Force for Health, and a citizen of science.