Wavyleaf basketgrass is a relatively new (since 1996) invasive species in Maryland. We've developed a cell phone app for the public to help collect locations of wavyleaf basketgrass populations but are running into University level IRB issues with minors being allowed to use the app. This app is freely available to the general public (just search "wavyleaf" in your app store). Users register, fill out a brief survey and then submit points as they hike and find populations. We're going to change the registration process so that if a user self-identifies as being under 18 they skip the survey and their data will not be used in any published studies but they can still look for and submit points. Our IRB office insists on having a signed parental consent form for any minor that submits points as this is considered locational data. This creates a logistical nightmare for us. I'm not even sure how we would go about doing this. There are all sorts of other citizen science cell phone apps out there where participants under 18 can easily submit locational data about plants, birds, phenology, etc. I'm interested to hear how other groups have dealt with this issue. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
-Vanessa
