What is Citizen Science?

Citizen Science is when members of the general public collect and analyse data relating to the natural environment. Amateur naturalists, school students and community groups volunteer to contribute valuable skills, knowledge and ideas to scientific projects.

The aim is to support community involvement in scientific processes and increase knowledge and skills.

How can you get involved?

From reporting pest animals to recording sightings of Small Purple-pea, we run a number of projects that have an element of Citizen Science. But your involvement doesn't stop there. There are many apps available to support identification, location and reporting observations that contribute to improving the landscapes around us.

Australian Citizen Science Association - Advance citizen science through the sharing of knowledge, collaboration, capacity building and advocacy.

Atlas of Living Australia - A collaborative, digital, open infrastructure that pulls together Australian biodiversity data from multiple sources, making it accessible and reusable. The ALA helps to create more detailed picture of Australia’s biodiversity for scientists, policy makers, environmental planners and land managers, industry and the general public, and enable them to work more efficiently.

BioCollect - An advanced, but simple-to-use data collection tool for biodiversity science. It was developed by the Atlas Living Australia (ALA) in collaboration with many organisations to assist users in collecting field data for their own projects as well as to enable new biodiversity data to be easily copied into the ALA where it can be available for others to use in research, policy and management. This allows individual projects to collectively contribute to “big science”.

Building Connections for Biodiversity in the Central Tablelands NSW - Discover, track and share observations of flora and fauna within the Central Tablelands NSW. Participating Landcare networks include Mid Lachlan, Central Tablelands, Little River, Lithgow Oberon (LOLA) and Watershed.

iNaturalist - Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. Your findings are shared with scientific data repositories like the global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use data. All you have to do is observe and report.

CSIRO Citizen Science - Embedding citizen science within research activities and building genuine partnerships with communities. Visit the website to read about and join active projects.

Australian Museum - The Australian Museum has had a long history in citizen science projects and currently manages, with collaborators, some of Australia’s most well known and best loved citizen science projects. Visit the website to see their current projects you can get involved in.

Bird Data - Make a real and positive difference for Australia’s birds using experience and specialised knowledge combined with the ability to unite and inspire the conservation community. Become part of a national bird monitoring community and make your birding count.

Climate Watch - Developed by Earthwatch Australia with the Bureau of Meteorology and University of Melbourne to understand how changes in temperature and rainfall are affecting seasonal behaviour of Australia’s plants and animals. The first continental phenology project in the Southern Hemisphere, ClimateWatch enables every Australian to be involved in collecting and recording data that will help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change.

Echidna CSI - Take photos of echidnas through this dedicated app and collect echidna scats for molecular analysis of their diet and gastric health.

FeralScan - Record pest animal activity in your local area to protect farms, biodiversity and communities. Species: dog, deer, rabbit, cat, fox, pig, myna, toad, goats, fish, starlings and more.

FrogId - Take part in Australia's biggest frog count. Record croaks and find out what frogs are in your patch, and help scientists learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs.

Aussie Backyard Bird Count - Taking part in the Aussie Backyard Bird count (17-23 October 2022) is easy! Just spend 20 minutes in your favourite outdoor space and tell us about the birds you see during that period.

Butterflies Australia - Download the app to record butterfly sightings. The app includes a free digital field guide and the website lets you explore the butterfly data in a number of ways on a hand map. Around September if you’re near Bathurst and Lithgow keep an eye out for the Purple copper butterfly.

Fungi Map - Record and help map fungi and further the conservation and knowledge of Australian fungi.

I Spy Koala - This app allows you to record sightings of koalas in the wild. You can enter information about the location and condition of the koala, as well as photos and other information.

Purple Pea Patrol - Small Purple-pea (Swainsona recta) is a special and rare species that needs your help. The species is so rare, that its listed as endangered. During September and October, search for teh Small Purple-pea and record your observations through the Purple Pea Patrol page.

PlaytpusSPOT = Spotted a platypus recently? Report your sightings on platypusSPOT and become a contributor to the ongoing conservation and research of this iconic Australian species.

Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater Search - Take part in a biannual monitoring survey and submit your findings through the Birddata app or direct to BirdLife Australia.

TurtleSAT - Map the location of freshwater turtles in waterways and wetlands across the country to help gather important evidence that will contribute to protecting turtles into the future.

Wild Pollinator Count - You can participate in spring and autumn (12-20 November 2022) by watching any flowering plant for just ten minutes during the count week. You don’t need to be an insect expert, or have fancy gear and who knows what insects you might see.

WomSAT - Help map Wombats in your local area. This resource is for communities to record sightings of wombats across the country. Australia’s unique wombats are in crisis with numbers declining. You can help them by recording where you see them and their burrows.

Wild Orchid Watch (WOW) -  Wild Orchid Watch is a national citizen science project designed to collect, record and share scientific information about Australian native orchids. Orchids are important as an indicator of exosystem change. They form the largest family of flowering plants in the world & make up 8% of flowering plants, covering a wide range of ecosystems and habitats. They are dependent on highly specialised pollinators and are reliant on mycorrhizal fungi.

WilderQuest - For the kids - The WilderQuest program provides opportunities for kids to experience nature online, in classrooms, at events and in national parks.