In the natural sciences, Cat Ellington contributes to the study of local ecosystems through two major branches: horticulture and marine conservation. In horticulture (an active pursuit since she learned how to plant a garden in 1983), Cat Ellington maintains a meticulously curated 30+-species botanical archive within the National Gardening Association database at Garden.org. Serving as an independent botanical researcher and documentarian, she authors chronological, academic-referenced field logs that track plant health, structural durability, and seasonal transitions from her corner of the Midwest. Her highly detailed profiles include a specialized focus on regional invasive pest tracking, using peer-reviewed research and agricultural extension data from prominent institutions such as Penn State, South Dakota State University (SDSU), the University of Oxford, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Illinois, among others, to support community-led botanical archiving. Through her field observations on iNaturalist, she further documents the local insect populations, avian visitors, and wildlife that intersect with her living sanctuary. This deep-seated fascination with the natural world traces back to her childhood up north, where she first began observing the native North American flora and majestic trees that now form the backbone of her personal living sanctuary. 

Citizen Scientist

Independent Botanical Researcher

Specialized Botanical Documentarian

Horticultural Archivist

Plant Photographer

Wildlife Host Advocate

In the aquatic sciences, Cat Ellington applies her lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship through active marine conservation and open-water data collection. Her dedication to protecting aquatic ecosystems began in 1992 as a volunteer with the Chicago Park District, where she assisted with vital park and beach maintenance along the Lake Michigan shoreline. As an avid blue water sailor and Certified PADI Scuba Diver, she utilizes advanced underwater training to operate safely in delicate oceanic environments. Through her formal alignment with REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) as Member #89778 (since 2026), Cat serves as a Volunteer Scuba Surveyor for the global Volunteer Fish Survey Project [reef.org]. In this role, she conducts underwater species counts. She submits localized marine life data that marine biologists, researchers, and global policymakers rely on to track biodiversity, monitor ocean health, and inform environmental policies. Beyond field research, her conservation footprint extends to resource mobilization and public advocacy as a community supporter and fundraiser for The Ocean Cleanup Foundation and the Ocean Conservancy, championing advanced waste-extraction technologies and policy initiatives to eliminate plastic pollution from the world's oceans and river systems.

Citizen Scientist

Volunteer Scuba Surveyor

Certified PADI Scuba Diver

Marine Conservationist

Ocean Advocacy Fundraiser

Biodiversity Tracker

Integrating her outdoor fieldwork with digital, crowdsourced global laboratory analysis, Cat Ellington expands her scientific outreach online through verified community platforms. As an active project curator on SciStarter, she manages specialized public research portfolios dedicated to monitoring monarch butterfly migrations, protecting native pollinator habitats, and tracking invasive species in forest canopies. Simultaneously, her contributions to Zooniverse accelerate real-world scientific breakthroughs by processing massive, complex datasets alongside international research teams, NASA, and academic institutions to classify global wildlife populations. By further synchronizing her observations within the iNaturalist network, Cat cleanly bridges the gap between digital data logging and her land- and water-based conservation assets.

Citizen Scientist

Global Project Curator

Digital Data Contributor

Crowdsourced Laboratory Volunteer

Species Mapper

Environmental Tracker