The Big Bushfire Bioblitz!

The Big Bushfire Bioblitz!

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Engaging citizens, Field-based citizen science, Meetings and Events
Grab your hat, your camera, and your moth sheet, and get ready for the Big Bushfire BioBlitz! The University of New South Wales’ Centre for Ecosystem Science, the Atlas of Living Australia, the Australian Citizen Science Association, Minderoo’s Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative, and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment are joining forces to run three bioblitzes across NSW in early 2022 to help track how our native ecosystems are recovering from the 2019-2020 bushfire season. Join us in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (Blue Mountains), Rainforests of the NSW north coast and tablelands (Washpool National Park), and Forests of the NSW south coast (Murramarang National Park) as we search for bugs, bats, birds and everything in between. We’re putting together an exciting line-up of experts…
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New article in The Conversation

New article in The Conversation

Communication & promotion, Engaging citizens
ACSA's former Chair Erin Roger Host Representative Alice Motion have just had their article published in The Conversation and it is well worth a read: https://theconversation.com/nature-is-hiding-in-every-nook-of-australias-cities-just-look-a-little-closer-and-youll-find-it-168256 This article was written to accompany the publication of Erin and Alice's open access journal article "Citizen science in cities: an overview of projects focused on urban Australia". You can download that article here.
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Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science 

Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science 

Communication & promotion, Meetings and Events, Showcasing science outcomes
A huge congratulations to AUSMAP,  Total Environment Centre and Macquarie University, for taking out the 2021 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science! The Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) is a world-first, national citizen science program that empowers people of all ages to document microplastic pollution. An immersive experience, participants are educated on the prevalence of microplastics around our waterways and trained to collect scientifically valid data that is used to design effective mitigation strategies for plastic pollution. Learn more
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SA Citizen Science Awards

Communication & promotion, Meetings and Events
The inaugural South Australian Citizen Science Awards were presented at the 2021 Tall Poppy and Unsung Hero of Science Award ceremony in November. The winners and finalists were also featured at the 2021 SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards where short videos of each of the finalist projects were shown. It was great to see citizen science recognised along with South Australia’s scientific achievements. Congratulations to: Science and Research Award: Echidna CSI (winner) and Bryophyte Collection Transcription Project (finalist) Engagement Award: Kangaroo Island/ Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch (winner) and iBandi (finalist). To learn more about these fantastic projects watch the videos here: Echidna CSI video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWEhYYJ1ggMKangaroo Island/ Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOtqQe7RRvkSA Bryophyte collection transcription project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQL5uwaCi0wiBandi video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCuiimNSvAA The SA Citizen Science Awards finalists
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ACSA Seed Grant Winners

Communication & promotion, Grants
We are very excited to announce the winners of ACSA's 2021 Seed Grants; MYCOmmunity Applied Mycology and 2 Bent Rods! Each will be provided with $1000 to assist the growth and development of their citizen science projects. MYCOmmunity Applied MycologyEma CorroMYCOmmunity Applied Mycology will use the money to train volunteers in taking herbarium specimens of fungi and in the use of basic laboratory equipment and techniques related to environmental DNA and DNA sequencing.  The Wild Fungi DNA Project is a very exciting initiative and has the potential to have a big impact and greatly enhance our knowledge of the distribution of Australian fungi. With only 5% of the estimated 250,000 species of Australian fungi being described, and the infrequent sightings and recording of fungi fruiting bodies, the use of eDNA…
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Sign up for a BioBlitz this summer

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Engaging citizens, Field-based citizen science
Members of the public are being invited to participate in a citizen science research program to boost existing bushfire recovery, data collection and monitoring activities for impacted wildlife.  Supported through the Australian Government’s Regional Bushfire Recovery Fund, the program includes funding for a Citizen Science Coordinator position based within the Atlas of Living Australia hosted by the CSIRO to support the delivery of three bushfire recovery projects. Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said citizen science projects present a unique opportunity to improve the science on bushfires, future preparations and bushfire actions.  “Three projects under the program are supporting fire-affected communities to engage with nature and the science of recovery,” Minister Ley said.  “The first project will see CSIRO run a series of weekend long ‘BioBlitz’ events in bushfire-affected regions…
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Symposium on Science Festival 2021 – Thailand

Symposium on Science Festival 2021 – Thailand

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, International, Meetings and Events
You are all invited to the first symposium on Citizen science in Thailand “The Rise of Citizen science – Elevating communities to sustainable development goals on public health and the environment”. The symposium will be held online on the 17th of November, starting at 9.00 AM and finishing at 4.00 PM Thailand Time (GMT+7) and it is free for everyone to join. Professor Graham Durant, Director Questacon, is one of the keynote speakers, along with many others who have been working and developing successful citizen science projects around the world on various platforms. They will share their experiences and inspire researchers, science communicators, campaigners, and communities to be more involved in citizen science, to build better and more sustainable communities for Thailand's health and environment.  Agenda Register
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Open Call for $100,000 in funding for Built Environments Biodiversity Project 2021

Open Call for $100,000 in funding for Built Environments Biodiversity Project 2021

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Grants
Call for proposals: The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) have announced a collaborative open call for partners on the Built Environments Biodiversity Project. ALA and AURIN are looking to collaborate with project partners who will design, build and deliver a project informed by citizen science that will examine the intersection of biodiversity with built environments in Australia. The project must result in a new research infrastructure that will be used by the AURIN and ALA research communities and have a citizen science element. They are offering up to $100,000 for a project that will be complete within twelve months. Applications close 13 December at 5:00PM (AEDT). For details and to apply: https://aurin.org.au/about-aurin/ala-aurin-open-call-2021/
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ACSA Western Australia events

ACSA Western Australia events

ACSA development, Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Engaging citizens, Meetings and Events
The ACSA-WA re-launch event on Saturday 23rd October at the new Education Centre in Kings Park and Botanic Garden had a great turnout to hear wonderful speakers. Starting with an Acknowledgement of Country, a fascinating video by our patron Professor Lyn Beazley, an introduction to our four Chapter committee members, and on to wide-ranging presentations on local citizen science practitioners, the event was a great success. Nic Dunlop presents to the audience on a range of CCWA citizen science projects Thanks to our speakers Marnie Giroud (Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group), Dr Kerry Trayler (River Guardians, DBCA), Dr Tegan Douglas (BirdLife WA), Drs Kevin Vinsen and Lisa Evans (The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research) and Dr Nic Dunlop (Conservation Council of WA). The event finished with a short walk along…
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Engaging Science Grants NOW OPEN

Engaging Science Grants NOW OPEN

Communication & promotion, Grants
Do you have an idea to engage Queenslanders in science? Applications for the Engaging Science Grants for up to $20,000 are now open to support teachers, scientists and community groups to: run events and activities that inspire students to study STEM subjects and promote STEM careers engage with the wider community to increase awareness of the amazing science happening in Queensland deliver projects including citizen science that grow community engagement with scientists The grants support our new Engaging Queenslanders in science strategy and projects should align to one of the three goals in the strategy. Apply before 1pm, Monday 15 November 2021: https://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/.../engaging...
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