Now open – 2021 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science

Now open – 2021 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion
Are you involved in an innovative research and community engagement project? The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science  is a great opportunity to get your work recognised. Winners will also be awarded $10,000 in prize money, so there are two great reasons to enter! While it’s essential that the entered work aligns with the prize purpose and assessment criteria, and conditions of entry are met, judges aren’t looking for a particular ‘type’ of project. So, if you can meet the above requirements, consider making 2021 the year you put your work forward. The Eureka Prizes team is available to provide entry support through until the deadline, so contact them with any questions via eureka@australian.museum. Image of Virtual Reef Diver (Queensland University of…
Read More
Picture a Scientist – exclusive member offer

Picture a Scientist – exclusive member offer

Communication & promotion, Inclusivity
In honour of International Womens Day 2021, ACSA would like to offer a complimentary screening of the incredible 'Picture a Scientist' documentary to our members*.  PICTURE A SCIENTIST chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries - including social scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists - who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.  The first 100 current ACSA members who register will receive their own unique link to a private virtual screening room,…
Read More
Book Launch invitation

Book Launch invitation

Communication & promotion, Meetings and Events
Last month the book ‘Geographic Citizen Science Design: No one left behind’, edited by Dr Artemis Skarlatidou and Prof.  Muki Haklay, was published Open Access by UCL Press (view or download here).   On the 23rd of March, from 5 to 6pm (GMT) (which is unfortunately at the inconvenient hour of 4am AEDT) you are invited to a book launch event, which includes a keynote by Susanne Hecker, Chair of the European Citizen Science Association. Other speakers include Dr Antonella Radicchi and Simon Hoyte who will discuss their chapters on soundscape research using the Hush City App and addressing illegal poaching in Cameroon using Sapelli and a Q&A session. If you would like to attend the event please use this link to register https://ucl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqcuippzMjEtFrWO6h30PGj-AHwv-r83IY where you can also view a more…
Read More

Grants open: Murray-Darling Healthy Rivers

Communication & promotion
The Australian Government is inviting applications for funding under Round 1 of the Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program (Small Grants). There is $6 million available in total funding for this round. Grants range between $5,000 and $50,000. This is an open, competitive grant round.The program aims to: improve health and ecological condition of rivers and wetlands in the Murray–Darling Basin that build on water recovered through the Murray–Darling Basin Planimprove community involvement in restoring the environmental health of theMurray–Darling Basinincrease economic activity and employment in Basin communities as a result of grant funding. Applications close at 9:00 pm AEDT on 31 March 2021.Information about applying for this round can be found on the Community Grants Hub website and GrantConnect.
Read More
Citizen Science Lunchtime Seminars

Citizen Science Lunchtime Seminars

ACSA development, Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Education, Inclusivity, Meetings and Events
The Australian Citizen Science Association (ACSA) Early-Mid career researchers (EMCR) Working Group is excited to announce a new series of lunchtime seminars discussing exciting developments in Australian citizen science research. With a goal to unite citizen science aligned researchers and practitioners in Australia, these seminars are a space to advance scholarship, provide support, share resources and advocate for new opportunities. We will hear from researchers conducting citizen science research in Australia, discuss challenges and opportunities we face while conducting such research and offer support for researchers taking their first steps into citizen science. Who will be the speakers? As the seminars are intended to share current research conducted in Australia and discuss its developments, opportunities and challenges, the speakers will be members of our growing community. We have three brave…
Read More

Understanding perceptions of citizen science in policy and practice – survey

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, CS Project
Do you work in #prevention, health promotion or healthy environments? ACSA Member Leah Marks invites you to take part in a quick survey to understand how and why you engage with the public in your work. Leah is a PhD candidate with the University of Sydney exploring the potential role of citizen science in policy and practice in preventive health as a means to complement or strengthen how the public engages in research and decision-making for chronic disease prevention. Her project aims to understand how citizen science approaches may be used to inform policy and practice in preventive health. "We are inviting individuals working in preventive health policy and practice to complete a brief (15 minute) survey exploring how public engagement approaches, such as citizen science are perceived and used…
Read More
ACSA Seed Grant Winners

ACSA Seed Grant Winners

Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, CS Project
Congratulations to the recipients of ACSA's Seed Grants for 2020 - Jordan Gacutan and Karen Guymer! The Seed Grants were designed as a way of giving back and investing in our members, with two $1,000 grants available to ACSA members to seed their professional or project's growth in line with ACSA's strategic goals of Participation and Practice.With 12 high quality applications for just 2 grants, our judging panel had a tough time indeed! Congratulations to our two winners: Jordan Gacutan - UNSW / Tangaroa Blue Foundation: The Seed Grant will be used to produce a 5 part video series on scientific sampling and their utility in marine debris monitoring. The videos will consist of theory and field demonstrations, and will aim to increase the scientific skill-set of citizen scientists working with marine debris across Australia. Karen Guymer - Wingecarribee Shire Council: The…
Read More
2020 ACSA Seed Grants open!

2020 ACSA Seed Grants open!

ACSA development, Communication & promotion
Does your project need a little bit of a cash boost? Could you use some extra money to help fund your professional development? In a year where times have been tough for a large part of our community, we are very pleased to announce that the ACSA Seed Grants are back and running for 2020 and we are now accepting applications!  Seed Grants of $1000 each will be awarded to two ACSA members to seed their professional growth or their project’s growth in line with ACSA’s strategic goals of Participation and Practice. Applications close Friday 16 October, 2020. Full details, including how to apply for a Seed Grant 2020 and the T&Cs can be found here. We encourage all members to apply. Not a member yet? Join us!
Read More
Insect Investigators – a school-based citizen science project discovering and documenting our biodiversity

Insect Investigators – a school-based citizen science project discovering and documenting our biodiversity

Blogs, Collaboration & partnerships, Communication & promotion, Field-based citizen science, Showcasing science outcomes
By Erin Fagan-Jeffries My goal is to get the community more involved in the process of how we document and describe our biodiversity – I believe we all should be part of this process to better understand what is living in the environment that we call home. The seed grant from the Australian Citizen Science Association allowed me to top up the amount available from my broader postdoctoral funding to allow four trials of a citizen science project that connected school groups to the process of species discovery. So far, trials of a project have been underway at four school across South Australia: Macclesfield Primary School in the Adelaide Hills, Cowell Area School on the Eyre Peninsula, and Waikerie and Ramco Primary Schools in the Riverland. Each school set up…
Read More