Citizen Science in KMLA

We present a study of citizen science performed at Korean Minjok Leadership Academy (KMLA). The importance of citizen involvements in scientific studies has been increasing, with remarkable results and performances. For instance, the discovery of an impact scar near Jupiter's south polar region (A. Wesley, 2009) led to an international campaign of professional observations to understand the asteroidal collision responsible for the scar. Citizen science at KMLA has been and will be mainly conducted by members of the astronomical observation club 'Apple-Pie' through amateur telescopes. Members of 'Apple-Pie' are specialized in various fields related to astronomy, from planetary science to cosmology. The spectrum not only includes fields that are directly related to astronomy but also fields such as computer science and astrophotography. The scheduled construction of a new observatory will further enable students to participate in higher level projects such as planetary monitoring over long timescales and the observation and detection of solar system bodies and exoplanets. In addition, a new supervisor with expertise and research experience in galactic astronomy, planetary science, and meteorology has joined the school faculty. He will supplement students with fundamental theoretical backgrounds and essential research techniques to enhance astronomical research at KMLA. KMLA's ultimate goal is to deploy a remote-controlled observatory available to aspiring scientists around the world to create a network of citizen science system. The prime observational conditions of KMLA and the willingness of the students and faculty members will provide a competitive edge for KMLA over other similar institutes in Korea.