Outsmart Invasive Species Project Smartphone App from the CPPA - UMass Outsmart Project press release Thanks to a new collaboration between the University of Massachusetts’ Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA) and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), anyone with a smartphone or a digital camera can help scientists collect valuable data about invasive species throughout Massachusetts. Charles Schweik, associate professor of public policy and environmental conservation at UMass Amherst, and Jennifer Fish, director of DCR’s Service Forestry program in Amherst, have received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enlist the help of “citizen scientists” to map invasive species using smartphone technology. The new Outsmart Invasive Species Project lets people learn about, identify and report invasive species in their own time, using the Outsmart Invasive Species iPhone or Android applications, which are available for free through iTunes and Google Play. But a smartphone isn’t necessary to help collect and report valuable data. Participants who have digital cameras and access to the Internet can submit data by registering through the free at Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System. All Massachusetts data submitted through this website, as well as that collected by smartphone users, will be sent to the Outsmart project team and reviewed by biologists. Visit the MassWoods Outsmart Invasive Species Project website for more information. UMass CPPA press release