National Science Week is the perfect time to get involved in a citizen science project in your area.
What is citizen science?
The Australian Citizen Science Association‘s official definition of citizen science is “citizen science involves public participation and collaboration in scientific research with the aim to increase scientific knowledge”.
If you are hosting an event that includes citizen science, please let Inspiring NSW know! inspiringnsw@sydney.edu.au
We know there will be more to come, but here are some highlights of opportunities to get involved, attend workshops or simply find out more about this world-wide movement in science.
AUSMAP – Australian Microplastic Assessment Project
AUSMAP, Australia’s leading microplastic program, is a nationwide citizen science program that aims to quantify microplastic pollution in our river systems and coastlines. This year they are offering a training day and a community day in the Wollongong area.
The training day is a full-day of field sampling methodology for collecting, sorting and identifying microplastics, with theory, field sampling and the option of a practical accreditation.
AUSMAP: Science by the Sea Community Training Day – Wollongong
Date: Friday 11 August, 9am to 3pm
Location: Koonawarra Bay Sailing Club, 1 Kanahooka Road, Kanahooka
If you can’t attend the training day but still want to learn more about microplastics and the impact on humans and the environment, you can join the Scientist for a Day program, a community event is for people of all ages.
AUSMAP: Science by the Sea Community Day – Belmore Basin
Date: Saturday 12 August, 9.30am to 11am
Location: Belmore Basin, Cliff Road, Wollongong
Wise Waterbugs
Bellingen Riverwatch is a long-standing citizen science program that involves the local community in monitoring and protecting local rivers. For National Science Week they are hosting Wise Waterbugs, a captivating two-part adventure that invites people of all ages to embark on an exploration of the realm of macroinvertebrates. It includes a special workshop designed for preschoolers and their grandparents, and a Macro Open day at Bellingen Markets.
Wise Waterbugs
Date: Saturday 12 August, 8am to 11am
Location: OzGREEN, 37 Hammond Street, Bellingen
Koala monitoring
In Kyogle a Science in the Pub event launches a citizen scientist project to become involved in a Richmond catchment wide koala monitoring program. Hosted by the Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare, it includes presentations from David Newell, an ecologist from Southern Cross University with a long history in using acoustic monitoring devices, Jane Baldwin from the Border Ranges Alliance, Pete Knock, the Large Forest Owls Coordinator with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW and Mark Ambrose, an ecologist from Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare.
Sounds of the Bush – Using acoustic monitoring in fauna conservation
Thursday 17 August, 6 to 8pm
Location: Kyogle Bowling Club, 38 Larkin Street, Kyogle
Koala Citizen Science Hawkesbury
Sydney Basin Koala Network aims to protect and expand connected, thriving koala core habitats and corridors across the Sydney Basin. For National Science Week they will hold a training day in the Hawkesbury where everyone is invited to learn about koala ecology, and how to record information about koala sightings, scats and habitat.
Koala Citizen Science Training Day in the Hawkesbury
Saturday 12 August, 10am to 4pm
Location: 1st Grose Vale Scout Hall, Mill Road, Kurrajong
Count Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Join like-minded bird-lovers to learn how to locate and identify Glossy Black-Cockatoos and their feed trees in the wild. Local experts will present information about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification and ecology. Participants will also have the opportunity to sign on to the second annual Great Glossy Count which will be held on 9-10 September.
Great Glossy Count Training Workshop
Saturday 12 August, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Location: Pottsville Environment Park, Centennial Drive Pottsville
Atlas of Life iNaturalist workshop in Bega
Atlas of Life members will be hands on to the help people use iNaturalist, the leading citizen science observation and data collection app, and guide people in its use. After the tuition, people will be able to practice their new learnt skills in the beautiful Bega River reserve.
iNaturalist: a beginner’s guide
Sunday 13 August, 11am to 12.30pm
Location: Bega River Reserve Bridge Street, Bega
Photography for Citizen Science
Fascinated by funghi? Bring more artistry to your fungi photography in this special workshop with photographer Andrew Larkin. Enhance your photographic skills which can be applied for all nature photography.
Photography for Fungi Fans
13 August, 10am to 3pm
Location: Boudna Environmental Education Centre, Wallagoot
Events on Citizen Science principals and success stories
Citizen Science as a Pathway to Nature Exploration and Sustainable Engagement
If you want to find out more about one of our leading citizen science programs, 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation, join one of the co-leaders, Associate Professor of Ecology Ricky Spencer from Western Sydney University, as he sheds light on how citizen science serves as a gateway for people to explore nature and become active stakeholders in their local communities’ sustainability efforts.
Wednesday 16 August, 6pm
Location: Penrith City Library – Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, 601 High Street Penrith
Merimbula Wharf Marine Habitat Restoration Project
Marine science meets citizen science, meets fishing, meets marine cuisine at the Merimbula Wharf. Learn about how citizen science and community involvement helped with the restoration of underwater forests and macroalgae rehabilitation of Merimbula Wharf on the far South Coast.
Thursday 17 August, 10am to 2pm
Location: Merimbula Wharf and Aquarium, Merimbula NSW
Citizen Science at Home and Abroad
Join Libby Hepburn from the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness for an exploration of brilliant examples of Citizen Science from communities across the world.
Saturday 12 August, 11am to 12pm
Location: Online
iNaturalist for Advanced Users
Join biologist Thomas Mesaglio for an online workshop dealing with a list of topics for the advanced users of iNaturalist. Learn how to search better for your favourite species and to work with the many great functions of this global platform for biodiversity.
Friday 18 August, 2 to 3pm
Location: Online
This page will be updated with other citizen science opportunities in 2023, as they are confirmed.
Feature image: From AUSMAP announcement of the 2021 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Citizen Science
National Science Week is the perfect time to get involved in a citizen science project in your area.
What is citizen science?
The Australian Citizen Science Association‘s official definition of citizen science is “citizen science involves public participation and collaboration in scientific research with the aim to increase scientific knowledge”.
If you are hosting an event that includes citizen science, please let Inspiring NSW know! inspiringnsw@sydney.edu.au
We know there will be more to come, but here are some highlights of opportunities to get involved, attend workshops or simply find out more about this world-wide movement in science.
AUSMAP – Australian Microplastic Assessment Project
AUSMAP, Australia’s leading microplastic program, is a nationwide citizen science program that aims to quantify microplastic pollution in our river systems and coastlines. This year they are offering a training day and a community day in the Wollongong area.
The training day is a full-day of field sampling methodology for collecting, sorting and identifying microplastics, with theory, field sampling and the option of a practical accreditation.
AUSMAP: Science by the Sea Community Training Day – Wollongong
Date: Friday 11 August, 9am to 3pm
Location: Koonawarra Bay Sailing Club, 1 Kanahooka Road, Kanahooka
If you can’t attend the training day but still want to learn more about microplastics and the impact on humans and the environment, you can join the Scientist for a Day program, a community event is for people of all ages.
AUSMAP: Science by the Sea Community Day – Belmore Basin
Date: Saturday 12 August, 9.30am to 11am
Location: Belmore Basin, Cliff Road, Wollongong
Wise Waterbugs
Bellingen Riverwatch is a long-standing citizen science program that involves the local community in monitoring and protecting local rivers. For National Science Week they are hosting Wise Waterbugs, a captivating two-part adventure that invites people of all ages to embark on an exploration of the realm of macroinvertebrates. It includes a special workshop designed for preschoolers and their grandparents, and a Macro Open day at Bellingen Markets.
Wise Waterbugs
Date: Saturday 12 August, 8am to 11am
Location: OzGREEN, 37 Hammond Street, Bellingen
Koala monitoring
In Kyogle a Science in the Pub event launches a citizen scientist project to become involved in a Richmond catchment wide koala monitoring program. Hosted by the Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare, it includes presentations from David Newell, an ecologist from Southern Cross University with a long history in using acoustic monitoring devices, Jane Baldwin from the Border Ranges Alliance, Pete Knock, the Large Forest Owls Coordinator with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW and Mark Ambrose, an ecologist from Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare.
Sounds of the Bush – Using acoustic monitoring in fauna conservation
Thursday 17 August, 6 to 8pm
Location: Kyogle Bowling Club, 38 Larkin Street, Kyogle
Koala Citizen Science Hawkesbury
Sydney Basin Koala Network aims to protect and expand connected, thriving koala core habitats and corridors across the Sydney Basin. For National Science Week they will hold a training day in the Hawkesbury where everyone is invited to learn about koala ecology, and how to record information about koala sightings, scats and habitat.
Koala Citizen Science Training Day in the Hawkesbury
Saturday 12 August, 10am to 4pm
Location: 1st Grose Vale Scout Hall, Mill Road, Kurrajong
Count Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Join like-minded bird-lovers to learn how to locate and identify Glossy Black-Cockatoos and their feed trees in the wild. Local experts will present information about Glossy Black-Cockatoo identification and ecology. Participants will also have the opportunity to sign on to the second annual Great Glossy Count which will be held on 9-10 September.
Great Glossy Count Training Workshop
Saturday 12 August, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Location: Pottsville Environment Park, Centennial Drive Pottsville
Atlas of Life iNaturalist workshop in Bega
Atlas of Life members will be hands on to the help people use iNaturalist, the leading citizen science observation and data collection app, and guide people in its use. After the tuition, people will be able to practice their new learnt skills in the beautiful Bega River reserve.
iNaturalist: a beginner’s guide
Sunday 13 August, 11am to 12.30pm
Location: Bega River Reserve Bridge Street, Bega
Photography for Citizen Science
Fascinated by funghi? Bring more artistry to your fungi photography in this special workshop with photographer Andrew Larkin. Enhance your photographic skills which can be applied for all nature photography.
Photography for Fungi Fans
13 August, 10am to 3pm
Location: Boudna Environmental Education Centre, Wallagoot
Events on Citizen Science principals and success stories
Citizen Science as a Pathway to Nature Exploration and Sustainable Engagement
If you want to find out more about one of our leading citizen science programs, 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation, join one of the co-leaders, Associate Professor of Ecology Ricky Spencer from Western Sydney University, as he sheds light on how citizen science serves as a gateway for people to explore nature and become active stakeholders in their local communities’ sustainability efforts.
Wednesday 16 August, 6pm
Location: Penrith City Library – Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, 601 High Street Penrith
Merimbula Wharf Marine Habitat Restoration Project
Marine science meets citizen science, meets fishing, meets marine cuisine at the Merimbula Wharf. Learn about how citizen science and community involvement helped with the restoration of underwater forests and macroalgae rehabilitation of Merimbula Wharf on the far South Coast.
Thursday 17 August, 10am to 2pm
Location: Merimbula Wharf and Aquarium, Merimbula NSW
Citizen Science at Home and Abroad
Join Libby Hepburn from the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness for an exploration of brilliant examples of Citizen Science from communities across the world.
Saturday 12 August, 11am to 12pm
Location: Online
iNaturalist for Advanced Users
Join biologist Thomas Mesaglio for an online workshop dealing with a list of topics for the advanced users of iNaturalist. Learn how to search better for your favourite species and to work with the many great functions of this global platform for biodiversity.
Friday 18 August, 2 to 3pm
Location: Online
This page will be updated with other citizen science opportunities in 2023, as they are confirmed.
Feature image: From AUSMAP announcement of the 2021 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Citizen Science
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