“Isn’t it great to have a job where you can show, and teach people about, the amazing underwater world and help to preserve it? “ Diana Kleine

CoralWatch integrates global coral health monitoring with education and public outreach creating reef awareness using simple and engaging tools. This provides people with accessible information about coral reefs and climate change, and hands-on experience collecting scientific data on coral bleaching using the Coral Health Chart.

The chart is an easy-to-use tool to quantify changes in coral colour associated with coral bleaching on the reef. It is so simple, no prior training is needed and anyone can get involved. The chart is used in the field and classroom, is available in 12 languages and data on >230.000 corals from >1910 reefs in 79 countries is publicly accessible.

CoralWatch also provides regular workshops for communities, teachers and students, and has developed a range of high quality educational materials such as books, DVD, curriculum linked lesson plans. Many of these are freely available.

More Information

https://coralwatch.org/

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Greg has recorded over 100000 observations on iNaturalist. He has a great interest in biodiversity and has become highly skilled in identifying plants in the field.

Greg and Ian discuss some tips for using iNaturalist while taking part in the Great Southern BioBlitz 2023.

They talk about the importance of practical experience and consider the role of formal qualifications in Citizen Science.

More Information

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/people/gregtasney

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Jessie Oliver became passionate about animals, nature, and sharing information at a young age. This has led her to embark on wild journeys both in volunteer and professional roles focused on ecology, environmental education, and wildlife conservation in California, Hawai`i, New York, and Queensland. Since returning to Australia, she has been heavily involved with the Australian Citizen science Association (ACSA) since it’s inception in 2014, and she is currently serving as the ACSA Executive Officer part time. Her experiences with citizen science also led her to take on a part-time PhD, where she is exploring the how the design of today’s technology can shape people’s experiences with citizen science, analysing audio recordings, and saving wildlife.

More Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessieloliver/

https://citizenscience.org.au/

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PossumPete teaches Ian how to find critters in a live BioBlitz walk during the Great Southern BioBlitz. They don't have to walk far into the Mooloolah River National Park to find some interesting observations and interactions with nature.

Peter Crowcroft leads environmental education activities for all ages into the bush and beach of the Victorian Surf Coast to teach people about this incredible place through his eyes as a biologist and naturalist.

To see the photos that PossumPete was taking during this episode you can go to possumpete profile on iNaturalist. at the link below.

More Information:

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/people/possumpete

https://www.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/Environmental-Education/Our-Environmental-Education-Team/Pete-Crowcroft

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/mooloolah-river/about

Photo Links

Wasp: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192759700

Huntsman: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192759701

Fly: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192759705

White-throated Honeyeater: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192771475

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Jess is a highly-motivated and passionate results-driven Environmental Scientist, experienced in all aspects of project management with a focus on volunteer engagement.

She is currently coordinating the Streamwatch Program as the Local Landcare Coordinator.

Jess has a background in professional bush regeneration with 20 years experience of working on conservation projects. She also has a strong volunteering background with 20 years experience volunteering for her local WIRES branch and has been a passionate volunteer for Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Service.

She prides herself on delivering positive business outcomes by engaging with all levels of the community.

More Information:

https://greatersydneylandcare.org/

https://greatersydneylandcare.org/streamwatch/

https://www.waterbugblitz.org.au/

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Lila is an inspiring citizen scientist and one of the main people responsible for starting the City Nature Challenge.

City Nature Challenge

Invented by community science staff, Lila Higgins at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and Alison Young and Rebecca Johnson at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), the City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe. It’s a bioblitz-style competition where cities are in a friendly contest with each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people.

Started in 2016 for the first-ever Citizen Science Day, the community science teams at NHM and California Academy of Sciences dreamed up the City Nature Challenge as a fun way to capitalize on their home cities’ friendly rivalry and hold an event around urban biodiversity. The first City Nature Challenge was an eight-day competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, engaging residents and visitors in documenting nature to better understand urban biodiversity.

More Information:

https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/

https://nhm.org/

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Hugh remembers making bow and arrow sets from Chinese privet at Devlins Creek in the Sydney suburb of Epping.

As an adult, he returned as a qualified bush regenerator, removing the Chinese privet and helping to restore the natural habitat.

Hugh is an active Citizen Scientist and his work involves being the Creative Director at Foresight Education and Design as well as a long serving member of the community based conservation group, The Friends of Glebe Wetlands.

The Friends of Glebe Wetlands Inc. is a local conservation group in Bega NSW Australia, made up of people who care for the important habitat at the Glebe Wetlands that is home to native wildlife including the Grey-headed Flying Fox.

More Information:

https://www.friendsofglebewetlands.org

https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglebewetlands

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Lindy and Randy talk turtle rescues, spider discoveries, BioBlltz, data gathering, stewardship and research.

Cooloola Coast's natural ecosystems, habitats and species thrive under the protection of residents, visitors, government, Cooloola Coastcare and its partners.

As a grassroots organisation, our Mission is to protect and restore Cooloola Coast’s species, habitats and ecosystems, for their own sake, and to enrich the lives of current and future generations .

Our stewardship includes:

Taking on-ground ACTION in nature

EDUCATING for better practices;

ADVOCATING to influence policy development, regulation, and decision-making;

RESEARCH that enlarges understanding and appreciation of Cooloola’s nature.

More Information:

https://www.cooloolacoastcare.org.au

https://www.facebook.com/CooloolaCoastcare

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Sherry Bruce, a member of the BIEPA Wildlife Team, is passionate about Dugongs.

Sherry explains why these beautiful animals need our protection and why Bribie Island is one of those special places where you can see Dugongs in their natural habitat.

BIEPA's mission is to help life to flourish on our island sanctuary by:

• protecting, maintaining, and restoring the native flora and fauna on and around the island;

• monitoring and improving the natural environment, including the surrounding waters;

• influencing urban development and promoting sustainable ecotourism; and

• proactively engaging with the local community to grow our membership and raise funds and awareness.

More Information:

https://www.biepa.online/

https://www.biepa.online/post/for-dugong-lovers-this-national-science-week

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1141828/brisbane-mascot-2032

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Jock Mackenzie is a tidal wetland ecologist and science communicator with over 15 years experience in field ecology. About 15 years ago Jock discovered how truly amazing and useful mangroves are and since then he has developed a passion for their conservation and protection. He’s continually surprised by the fascinating complex interactions that occur in this environment and the functional benefits they provide to people in coastal areas.

Jock talks about the importance of Mangroves for the health of our oceans and as a method of carbon sequestration.

More Information:

http://mangrovewatch.org.au/

https://earthwatch.org.au/about-us/people/our-team/jock-mackenzie

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