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Citizen Science

How to Get Involved: Citizen Science Projects

You don’t need to be a scientist to contribute to scientific research projects that can help build our knowledge about nature and environmental change, and support conservation and sustainable management of nature.

Being a citizen scientist can be fun and rewarding – it involves helping scientists gather data about plants, animals, weather, pollution levels, and other topics, which can be used to improve the world.

Conservation Volunteers Australia supports a variety of citizen science projects. Below is an explanation of what citizen science is, why it’s important and how you can get involved in being a citizen scientist in Australia.

What is Citizen Science?

Citizen science is the contribution of people in society, who may not be professional scientists, in gathering and analysing scientific data that contribute to scientific research.

This type of public participation in scientific research and projects can take many forms and typically involves collaboration with researchers and scientists.

For example, citizens may help record and share their observations of plants and animals in specific locations using the iNaturalist app.

The reason why citizen science is so important is that it enables the collection and analysis of vast swathes of data at a much larger scale than would be possible by individual researchers. It also helps make this research possible within budgetary limits, as citizen scientists volunteer their time to collect data.

Furthermore, citizen science can help to rapidly gather vital data that can be used to solve real-world challenges, such as providing monitoring data on animal species that can inform conservation management and strategies.

Citizen science can also help raise the public’s general understanding of research science and make the process of decision-making based on that data more participatory. It can also empower citizens to build their knowledge of particular subjects. In the case of conservation apps and data collection, it empowers citizens to become active nature stewards – fostering a deeper connection with, and knowledge of, the natural environment.

CVA’s Citizen Science Initiatives

Conservation Volunteers Australia creates many citizen science volunteer opportunities. By taking part in our projects, you can deepen your understanding and connection with the natural world, and be actively involved as a nature steward.

Our citizen science initiatives drive action for nature through the conservation of native habitats, protection of threatened species, and building back of biodiversity.

This includes collecting data about pollution in rivers and waterways across Australia as part of our SeaToSource Program, which contributes important data to CSIRO’s plastic pollution survey. The video below shows CVA volunteers taking part in citizen science survey clean up events.

Our CVA App also collects data about conservation action in the form of Nature Blocks being established, and many of our conservation projects include citizen science elements to record plant and animal sightings – such as our participation in BioBlitz events.

How to Get Involved in CVA’s Citizen Science Projects

Almost anyone can take part in citizen science. You don’t need a science degree, or to be a scientist. Some citizen science activities require you to be outdoors to gather data, while others can be done from your laptop or mobile phone.

The benefits of being a citizen scientist are:

  • Being part of a collaborative project for good
  • Making a positive contribution towards science and conservation
  • Building new skills and knowledge
  • meeting like-minded nature stewards

👉 Here’s how you can get involved in CVA’s citizen science projects:

  1. Download the CVA App and grow a Nature Block at home
  2. Join a CVA community volunteering event
  3. Take part in CVA’s SeaToSource Plastic Waste Challenge
  4. Download iNaturalist and Digivol and submit your plant and animal sightings for conservation.