Amy Slocombe – Australian Citizen Science Association

11Jul 2022 by Amy Slocombe 5 Comments

Free webinar: How to use drones to monitor ecosystems

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Data management, Meetings and Events

When: Monday July 18, 2022 | 7:30 - 8:25pm AEST Online event: Zoom link will be delivered upon registering for this event Hosted by: GeoNadir & ACSA As you already know, our precious ecosystems are under threat. Fortunately, technology is advancing to the point where citizen scientists like us can contributeto real solutions. One of those solutions involves using drones to capture imagery of our local ecosystems. Through the use of drones and the associated technology, we can contribute to solving thechallenging global problems we are all facing. We have partnered up with Technical Lead and Co-Founder of GeoNadir, Dr Karen Joyce. Shewill be presenting a webinar all about how to use drones to monitor ecosystems. Dr Joyce is a scientist, academic, and educator. During her time as Senior Lecturer…

06Jun 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

Seed Grants 2022 OPEN- Call for applications!

Grants

Two $1000 Grants available - apply now! ACSA is excited to announce its fifth round of Seed Grants. As a way of giving back and investing in our members we are offering grants of $1000 each to two ACSA members to seed their professional growth or their project’s growth, or assist with publication costs for an open access journal.Applications are now open for the 2022 Seed Grants. What’s in it for you? $1000 to seed your professional development or your project’s growth, or assist with publication costs for an open access journal.Exposure for your project and/or organisation.Motivation to initiate something you have always wanted to do.Quick and easy application process (online application form). Last year, our two ACSA Seed Grant winners were: Samantha Beckmann2 Bent RodsFor a video & QR…

06Jun 2022 by Amy Slocombe 2 Comments

2021 Seed Grant – MYOCOmmunity Applied Mycology Progress Report

Communication & promotion, CS Project, Grants

By Ema Corro, winner of a 2021 ACSA Seed Grant Our project aims to use citizen science to rapidly increase knowledge of fungal taxonomy and ecology. As part of this we have been training volunteers to record sightings of fungi using iNaturalist, to take and describe herbarium specimens and do microscopy and DNA work on fungi. The equipment we bought with the ACSA grant has allowed us to show volunteers how to extract DNA from mushrooms and environmental samples for sequencing and tests for environmental DNA. For the next stages of our project we are planning to study the effects of storm damage on soil fungi and do some pilot runs sequencing environmental DNA in animal scats. We are also developing tests to look for invasive as well as endangered species of…

06Jun 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

2021 Seed Grant – 2 Bent Rods Progress Report

Communication & promotion, Grants

By Samantha Beckmann, winner of a 2021 ACSA Seed Grant We are so grateful to have won an ACSA Seed Grant to help promote the use of the 2 Bent Rods free fishing app, where recreational & professional fishers can upload photos and contribute data about the size and health of fish in their catch. Currently we have about 500 fishers using the app. We also use the app to help in the management of our fishing competitions, which encourage fishers to take a photo of native fish and release them, or in the case of pest fishing competitions, help to keep track of pest numbers before disposal. With users sharing their catches, we will be able to gain an understanding of the main fish caught from shore based fishers.…

01Jun 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

ACSA Membership to align with financial year

ACSA development, Communication & promotion

Over the next little while we will be transitioning the ACSA membership program to align with the financial year, rather than having a rolling membership program. Synchronising membership has a number of benefits including administrative efficiencies, the ability for membership drives and the simplification of automatic renewals. It will also allow us to manage our brand new members-only Facebook group (see below for details). All new memberships and renewals that commence from now will have an expiry date of 30 June 2023 (or 2024 if you select a 2 year term). What this means for existing members Your current membership will expire 12 months from your most recent purchase date. Upon renewal, your membership will automatically be converted to the new membership period (1 July – 30 June) and a…

05May 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

CitSciOz21 videos now available

Communication & promotion, Conferences, Meetings and Events, Showcasing science outcomes

Six months have passed since our 3rd National Citizen Science Conference CitSciOz21, which means that all the conference content - talks, workshops, keynotes and symposiums - are now available on our YouTube channel for general viewing! Our amazing social media guru Michelle Neil has been busy uploading all the videos and you will see the CitSciOz21 playlist continue to grow until she's done them all. Huge thanks to Michelle for her countless and dedicated hours to ACSA. So jump on in and revisit some of the wonderful presentations, or for those of you who didn't attend the event, check them out for the first time! CitSciOz21 - YouTube Playlist

31Mar 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

Strategic planning for our next 3 years

ACSA development, Collaboration & partnerships, Meetings and Events

The ACSA management committee including our Chapter Chairs met in Canberra for two days in late February. We set three objectives for the meeting: Get to know each other. Six members of the committee were recently appointed, and others had not met in person due to Covid restrictions. Unfortunately, Covid continued to play a hand and prevented six of our members from attending in person. They were, however, able to participate in all sessions via video link.Get to know ACSA better. Again, this was particularly important for us newbies.Agree on our direction and actions for the next three years (see below). Chair Annie Lane opening the meeting It’s always important to reflect on and celebrate achievements. Among our achievements over the last three years are: Great feedback from our members.…

30Mar 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

ACSA International Citizen Science Community of Practice – March 2022

ACSA development, Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, International

This Community of Practice is dedicated to increasing and enriching broader knowledge in Australia of international citizen science. The group will explore and share knowledge of what’s happening across the world in citizen science. Through this work we will develop networks and collaborations across skills and research areas. If you are interested in learning more and makeing further advances together at the global level, please be invited to join this ACSA CoP by signing up here. Below, you find more information on the rationale of the CoP, how we work and how you can become engaged. Background & rationale for the ACSA International CoP We know of the great global initiatives that need and encourage citizen science, like the SDGs and the UNESCO Open Science Recommendation. We are also aware that…

15Mar 2022 by Amy Slocombe 1 Comment

Fungimap Research Grants open!

Communication & promotion, Grants

Both the inaugural Fungimap Research Grants and the Australasian Mycological Society Research Grants are now open for applications! The Fungimap Research Grant is open to citizen scientists and those building the capacity of fungi citizen science in Australia, while the Australasian Mycological Society Research Grant is open to mycologists, scientists and students associated with an Australasian research organisation.Full details and guidelines on the links below: Fungimap Research Grant Announcement 2022Fungimap Research Grant Guide 2022Australasian Mycological Society Research Grant 2022 For the Fungimap grant, citizen scientists are invited to apply for between $500-$2000, with up to $3000 total funds expected to be distributed across two programs on research projects focussed on improving knowledge of Australia's native macrofungi. Applications close Thursday 14th April 2022.Enquiries to fungimap@gmail.com. Fungimap gratefully acknowledges the generous support of every individual and organisation who have…

15Mar 2022 by Amy Slocombe No Comments

Insights from a Eureka Prizes judge: Dr Erin Roger

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion

Dr Erin Roger is a Sector Lead at Atlas of Living Australia, former Chair of the ACSA and a longstanding judge for the Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science — now in its seventh year. The Eureka team at the Australian Museum caught up with Erin recently to look inside the judging process, discuss why you should consider entering and reflect on the evolution of citizen science. It's a great insight and we encourage you to take a read. https://australian.museum/blog/science/innovation-in-citizen-science/

Author: Amy Slocombe