UNESCO is developing a global policy and regulatory agenda on Open Science (UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science) that will include Citizen Science as one important pillar.  We have created a Citizen Science & Open Science Community of Practice (CoP) within the Citizen Science Global Partnership to establish a cooperation with UNESCO on that initiative.  The first request …

By Michelle Neil At the end of March 2019 I had just returned from the USA Citizen Science Association’s Conference in Raleigh NC and I had just submitted my ACSA blog about my adventures.  I was still buzzing about everyone I had met, the sheer volume of people (over 800!)  that were at the Conference …

ACSA-QLD is seeking nominations to join its Chapter Management Committee!  The Queensland Chapter of ACSA was launched January 2019, and is now looking to build a vibrant program for the state’s community of practice (and interest).  If you have a role in citizen science in Queensland and some time and energy to offer, please consider …

The National Environmental Science Program (NESP) grants are open until 30 June 2020, seeking applicants to deliver research in applied environmental science to support decision-makers from across the Australian community.  The program will be delivered through four thematic research hubs and seek to deliver national scale applied environmental research programs, but also strong engagement and outcomes with …

Just before COVID-19 threatened to change the world as we know it, and as the bushfires started raging across the country, Dr Yaela Golumbic, who you may remember from her CitSciOz18 blog, had embarked on a journey to map citizen science in Australia.  With help from many in this community, and responses from almost 100 citizen science …

In mid-April CSIRO officially announced its partnership with ACSA and the Atlas of Living Australia in producing the Citizen Science Bushfire Project Finder.  CSIRO’s Chief Executive Larry Marshall and Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews were both quoted in the media release with Minister Andrews reiterating her commitment to citizen science “Despite the challenges …

Just as ACSA responded to the bushfire crisis earlier in the year, we would also like to contribute to how the Australian community can stay positive, share experiences and contribute to science and learning in the context of COVID-19 social distancing, flattening the curve and mitigation.  Doing more together While physical isolation guidelines are being …

The unprecedented Australian fires are devastating.  They have led to the loss of lives, homes, habitats and livelihoods.  Members of the Australian Citizen Science Association extend our deepest sympathies to those affected personally and also recognise the ecological grief that may be prompted by the scale of this crisis.  In this time of extreme loss, …

On 6 April 2020 Professor Paul Kelly, Deputy Chief Health Officer, encouraged all Australians to join Flutracking to help track the spread of COVID-19.  Following this Dr. Craig Dalton, co-ordinator of Flutracking.net reached out to ACSA and asked for our assistance in spreading this message far and wide.  Participating in this citizen science project is …

“Imagine how many species we could document if everyone in Australia just spent a few hours a day for four days documenting the biodiversity in their own backyard!”  Sick of staying indoors?  Have you heard about the biggest backyard bioblitz Australia has ever seen?  For the first time ever the City Nature Challenge is being …