On November 7, 2024, South Australia's citizen science community came together for an inspiring hybrid event: From Science Engagement to Discovery: Successes and Growth of South Australia’s Citizen Science Community. The event was a resounding success, bringing together local in-person and online international people passionate about advancing citizen science in South Australia.
Growing a Thriving Citizen Science Community
The workshop not only celebrated the successes of South Australian citizen scientists but also highlighted the enormous potential for growth in the field. The blend of experienced practitioners and newcomers fostered an inclusive and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring everyone left with fresh inspiration and practical strategies to implement in their projects. This event offered a relaxed opportunity for networking, where citizen scientists shared stories, built connections, and inspired one another to explore new collaborations.
Event Highlights
The workshop kicked off with a warm Welcome to Country by Uncle Rob, setting a thoughtful tone for the day. Attendees enjoyed engaging presentations that showcased a diverse range of citizen science projects, followed by insightful Q&A sessions. Participants explored best practices in discusson and engaged in a workshop focused on providing valuable insights to improve the SciStarter Australia platform and enhance their citizen science projects reach.
The afternoon featured a captivating panel discussion, bringing together experts to explore innovative ways to enhance citizen science efforts. This dynamic event energized participants, sparking new ideas and inspiration to build upon.
Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of this event. We look forward to seeing how the South Australian citizen science community continues to thrive and make meaningful discoveries together!
A Special Thanks!
We are incredibly grateful to Uncle Rod, all our speakers, panellists and the Environment Institute for making this event a success. Your passion and dedication to community and citizen science continue to inspire and drive meaningful change. Thank you for your generous contributions!
Our Guest Speakers
Morning:
Darlene Cavalier (Virtual) – SciStarter.org Features and Partnerships
Annie Lane – Visions of ACSA and Connecting Nationally
Alice Woodward – Soil Your Undies
Karen Burke da Silva – Passport to Recovery
Sophie Green – Fungi for Function: Bushland Health Indicators
Dr Michelle Blewitt – Microplastic Mapping: Engaging Citizens to Find Effective Solutions for the Future
Afternoon:
Natasha Davis – If You Build It, What Will Come: Measuring Healthy Landscapes
Dr Nina Wootton – Toys for Turtles: Combatting Plastic Pollution with Outreach
Dr Keri Hopeward – Living Lightly Locally
Karan Coombe-Smith – Belair Bush Buddies: After-School Nature-Based Activities
Dominic McAfee – Community-Led Restoration of Coastal Habitats
Jessica Bamford – Researching Cortinarius Mushrooms in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges
Erin Rogers – The Role of Citizen Science in Biodiversity Data Collection
Panel Discussion:
Annie Lane, Sylvia Clarke, Erin Rogers, & Katie Irvine
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