What is our role in the collection of scientific data?

[Ray]

In part one, Blum takes us on a journey of early weather forecasting, which relied on everyday people to make weather observations - a mainstay of modern weather forecasting with wireless weather stations in our back yards, unpaid civilian storm spotters, and the National Weather Service asking for storm reports. In what other ways to we regularly contribute data and measurements to the scientific community without thinking about it? Does it surprise you that everyday people make such an important contribution to scientific research?