As part of an effort to involve libraries around the world in promoting Citizen Science projects, the Pella Public library is hosting Megathon on Citizen Science Day – Saturday, April 13 from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. It’s a one-hour event, during which thousands of people around the world will play an online game at the same time to help answer a key Alzheimer’s research question. The overall goal is to get 100,000 people globally to play Stall Catchers during the same hour, which would be the equivalent of one year of research. Stall Catchers is an online game that anyone can play–even those as young as six years old. By analyzing blood vessels in a live mouse brain, those participants can help speed up groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research at Cornell University. The library hopes to get people to participate, either at their location on Main Street, around the community or at home, but they are also looking for volunteers to help on the day of the Megathon to help people sign up for the game if they haven’t already done so, and to help during that time with whatever questions arise. Participants should bring their own laptop, phone or tablet, if possible. The Pella Public Library will also have a Megathon Preview Night on April 4 at 7pm to assist people to sign up, practice together on the big screen and watch a short introductory video.

Before participants come, they should:
*Set up an account at megathon.us and start practicing.
*Join our Megathon Team (on megahon.us): “Pella Library Catchers”
*Register for the event at https://pellalibrary.libcal.com/ so they know how many people to expect
*Come to the Megathon Preview Night on April 4 at 7pm to learn more