Citizen Science

Becoming a Citizen Scientist

Citizen Science activities are popular globally. However the UK has long been good at harnessing the public interest in doing something to benefit our biodiversity.  People with an interest in the environment and wildlife are encouraged to get involved in a range of recording schemes to record what they see around them and then submit their data resulting in large agglomerations of data that can be useful for science in identifying certain trends.

The motivation for people to take part is often a basic desire to help preserve our natural areas and wildlife for future generations.  In return, participants can feel a greater sense of connectivity with their environment and can also learn more about the range of wildlife that shares the same space.

Participation

Citizen Science recording schemes can be designed to gain the participation of all ages and all levels of experience, from young children to mature naturalists.  Some schemes can take place in easily accessed areas such as public parks, school grounds and even back gardens, e.g. RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, and the Big Butterfly Count.  The North East Scotland Biological Records Centre is another good example.  It is effectively a large ongoing Citizen Science project where anyone can contribute sightings of any species of wildlife to the database at a time and location that suits the contributor.

Other Citizen Science’s projects you may be interested in

• 200 hours of Lacewings challenge – survey the Bordered Brown Lacewing! | Species On The Edge
• Curious Craneflies – Nature-based activities at night | Buglife & Derby University
• Flower-Insect Timed Counts (FIT Counts) – Help monitor pollinators | UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
• SmartRivers – Sample and analyses invertebrates | Scottish Freshwater Hub
• Seagrass Spotter – Help monitor seagrass | Project Seagrass
• Nature’s Calendar – Track the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife near you | The Woodland Trust
• PondNet Spawn Survey – Track where and when amphibians are breeding across the UK | Freshwater Habitats Trust
• Sunset Survey for bats – Keep an eye out for nocturnal wildlife | Bat Conservation Trust
• The Big River Watch – Help build a picture of river health across the UK | The Rivers Trust
• PondWatch – Look out for dragonflies | British Dragonfly Society
• The Big Hedgehog Map – Add your hedgehog sightings to a map to see how they are doing | Hedgehog Preservation Society
• BioBlitz our greenspace – Create a snapshot of the variety of life found in your greenspace | NESBReC and NESBiP

Conservation volunteers at Bioblitz day ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot

Participants can feel a greater sense of connectivity with their environment and can also learn more about the range of wildlife that shares the same space