Participatory biological recording in the UK is a triumph of public contribution to our collective knowledge of the natural world. Devoted volunteers and enthusiasts generate vast databanks supporting environmental policy, research and practice with baseline data for thousands of native and non-native UK species.
As threats to UK wildlife mount, the need to grow the evidence base for effective conservation becomes increasingly vital. We need effective communications tools to be able to share this amazing energy and support an accessible, well informed citizen science culture. What key stories should we be telling to empower local communities in spaces on their doorsteps, and develop the practical skills among the existing and emerging army of volunteers, advocates and citizen scientists that will provide the evidence base and help shape the discussion going forward?
2. Bridging the researcher-
communicator gap:
sharing perspectives from citizen
science based ecological
research and engagement
Helen Roy
and many more
4. …collaboration and communication…
"Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of
higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by
definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of
generating mutual benefit."
6. The landscape of citizen science
No clustering;
there are no discrete ‘types’ of projects
7. Tool kits for citizen science…
How to choose
citizen science
approaches
How to run citizen
science well
Evaluating cost-
benefits of citizen
science
12. Informing policy…
Isaac et al (2014) Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Powney et al (2017) UK Biodiversity Indicators 2017: D1c pollinating insects. JNCC/ CEH.
Average relative change in distribution
of 389 species of wild bee and
hoverfly using 1km occurrence records
20. Summary
• Many, many
reasons for
engaging people
with biodiversity
– Need for big data to address big
ecological questions
– Need to engage people in
decision-making
– …etc
• But words can not
describe the joy of
sharing data
stories
