Maximising the Capacity of Citizen Science for Science and Society
A Fenner Conference on the Environment supported by the Australian Academy of Science
When: 23-24 July, 2015
Where: The Shine Dome, Canberra
Post-conference workshops were also held at Questacon on July 25th
Overview of the Conference
Citizen science is a partnership between individuals and scientists for investigating pressing questions about the world. The purpose of this conference was to bring together the Australian citizen science community to share skills and ideas, as well as to encourage collaboration. Attendees were given the opportunity to explore the development of citizen science by hearing from Australian and international perspectives, as well as through sharing successes and challenges of delivering citizen science projects. The keynotes, workshops, and interactive speed talk sessions provoked fantastic discussions, and the poster sessions certainly showcased the depth of citizen science in Australia and beyond.
Conference Report
You can read the conference report HERE.
Attendees looked forward to
- An inspiring conference that encourages collaboration and imaginative thinking
- Keynote presentations
- Formal and informal presentations
- Opportunities to talk about your Citizen Science project
- Lots of discussion and interactions with like-minded people
Book of Abstracts
You can download the Book of Abstracts HERE, which includes the conference program, as well as abstracts for all of the speed talks and poster presentations
Conference Posters
Many of the posters from the conference can be viewed HERE (courtesy of eposters.net)
What was on!
| July 23 | Conference: Day 1 at the Shine Dome |
| July 24 | Conference: Day 2 (including the AGM of the Australian Citizen Science Association) at the Shine Dome |
| July 25 | The Saturday Sessions, hosted by Inspiring Australia at Questacon were for groups to meet and discuss areas of mutual interest:
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Conference Program
DAY 1 – Thursday July 23 |
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| 08:00 | Registration |
| 08:30 | Welcome to Country |
| 08:40 | Welcome from Inspiring Australia |
| 08:50 | Official Opening: Ian Chubb, Chief Scientist |
| 09:00 | KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Maximising the capacity of citizen science for science and society Rick Bonney (Cornell University) |
| 09:30 | Morning Tea |
| 10.00 | Learn about and discuss designing citizen science projects to achieve outcomes for participants, science and society… SPEED TALKS AND WORKSHOP 1: Deliberate design of citizen science projects International and Australian examples will underpin an interactive workshop about best practices in citizen science, including defining and documenting project aims, and implementation of a design framework. Led by Jennifer Shirk (Cornell University) and Carla Sbrocchi (University of Technology, Sydney) |
| 11.55 | Film preview – Maratus: one photo can change your life. How a citizen scientist discovered a new spider species. |
| 12.00 | Lunch |
| 12.30 | Share your project and learn about the diversity in citizen science in Australia… POSTER AND NETWORKING SESSION 1: Citizen Science projects in Australia Practitioners of citizen science will present posters about their projects |
| 14:30 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15:00 | Learn about and discuss advances in data collection and management… SPEED TALKS AND WORKSHOP 2: Data – collection and management An interactive discussion about the methods and tools for collecting and managing data in citizen science projects, including QA practices and standards, and the process of sample design. Session led by Luigi Ceccaroni (European CSA) with Piers Higgs (Gaia Resources) and John La Salle (Atlas of Living Australia) |
| 17:00 | Share your ideas and learn about the latest advances in citizen science… POSTER AND NETWORKING SESSION 2 (with drinks and nibbles): Innovations in Citizen Science Posters related to novel outcomes of citizen science, new techniques or tools for supporting projects |
| 17:15 | ADDRESS: Chair of the Board of the Australian Citizen Science Association |
| 20.00 | Close of day 1 |
DAY 2 – Friday July 24 |
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| 07:00 | Registration |
| 07:30 | Annual General Meeting: Australian Citizen Science Association |
| 08:30 | KEYNOTE SPEAKER: New ways of thinking for integrating social and ecological systems John Williams FTSE (Former Chief, CSIRO Land and Water) |
| 09:00 | Learn about innovative citizen science projects across a wide range of fields… PANEL DISCUSSION: The many forms of citizen science Panel members:
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| 10:00 | Morning Tea |
| 10.30 | Learn about and discuss strategies for data validation and analysis … SPEED TALKS AND WORKSHOP 3: Data – Validation and Analysis Presentations on established, robust and novel techniques will inform a workshop on validating and analysing the data from citizen scientists. Session led by Rick Bonney (Cornell University) and Peter Walsh (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies) |
| 12:15 | Lunch |
| 13:00 | Learn about and discuss innovative ways to increase the impact of your projects on individuals and communities… SPEED TALKS AND WORKSHOP 4: The social impacts of citizen science An interactive discussion underpinned by global examples of formal and informal education, promoting connections to nature, developing skills, and changing attitudes and behaviours. Session led by John Tweddle (Natural History Museum, London), Philip Roetman (University of South Australia) and Chris Gilles (The Nature Conservancy) |
| 14:45 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15:15 | Learn about and discuss how and why to evaluate your citizen science projects… SPEED TALKS AND WORKSHOP 5: Evaluating project effectiveness Talks and a workshop focussing on program evaluation and documenting the outcomes of citizen science projects. Session led by Nancy Longnecker (University of Otago) and Gretta Pecl (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies) |
| 17:00 | Close of Day 2 |
Generous sponsors made this conference possible!
Gold Sponsors were:
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Silver Sponsors were:
Conference Organising Committee
- Carla Sbrocchi (University of Technology, Sydney)
- Gretta Pecl (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania)
- Philip Roetman (Discovery Circle, University of South Australia)
- Libby Hepburn (Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness)
- John La Salle (Atlas of Living Australia, CSIRO)