Citizen Science Show

As a child, Vanessa Pirotta found inspiration in figures like David Attenborough, at a time when there were few visible role models who reflected her background. That experience shaped her commitment to visibility in science today, particularly for women and people from diverse communities. She sees representation as essential to helping young people imagine themselves as scientists. Whales sit at...

Tonight’s guest has lived his passion from the age of fifteen. Little did he know, he would become an underwater photographer and filmmaker. His underwater career has spanned sixty years and he has won numerous underwater photography awards. He is also a dive tour pioneer and recently has extended his tours to include wildlife photography safaris in Africa. He was a dive centre owner and PADI dive...

It's widely believed that the Australian cane toad problem belongs to Queensland. Tonight's guest tells us news to the contrary. Daniel McCawley trained and worked as a computer game designer but found that reality was more fun than virtual reality. On the show, describes how the cane toads have migrated south into the Clarence Region. His new game is being on the front line of defence in New Sout...

Today’s special guest is a marine biologist, marine ecologist and an internationally renowned whale researcher, Dr Olaf Meynecke. He graduated in Environmental Sciences at the University of Lueneburg, Germany and then travelled to Australia and completed a PhD at Griffith University, Queensland. His PhD research focused upon the relationship between commercial fish harvesting and the env...

Following rain has shaped much of Stephen Axford’s life in recent years. What began as a fascination with photographing fungi gradually unfolded into something far larger, carried by curiosity, collaboration, and a growing awareness of how deeply fungi shape the living world. Alongside documentary film maker Catherine Marciniak, Stephen has spent years documenting organisms that most people walk p...

Today’s special guest is a Marine Biologist, an internationally renowned Coral Reef Ecologist & Researcher, a Prawn Aquaculture researcher and a highly experienced and highly qualified Scuba Diver. Dr Paul Muir talks about his coral reef scientific research. Paul describes the makeup and structure of corals and comments on the latest coral bleaching event that is happening on The Great Barrier...

Gina Mascord is a true wildlife warrior and citizen scientist with a heart of gold and the patience of a saint to get the magnificent images of the underwater marine life that are dear to her heart. In this episode Gina talks about her recent experience helping to clear out fishing line from Swansea channel and offers some advice for those people who love to dive in the channel. Gina has subm...

Les Graham is not just living proof that a lifetime of dedication can make a difference to the environment but also to people. He started his SCUBA diving in 1958. He could not afford to buy a regulator on an apprentice wage so decided to build one himself. Les came from England with his wife Fran as 10 Pound Poms and became dedicated SCUBA divers. In 1968 together they opened a dive centre at Ter...

Judy was introduced to birdwatching when she was a child by her Grandmother. This began a life-long love of bird watching but it wasn't until 2009 that she got her first set of binoculars. Today, Judy holds an A-Class bird banding licence and is an active member of the Hunter Bird Observers Cub. She explains how the birds are caught and banded, what are the common threats to birds and bird habitat...

Lisa first got involved in citizen science as a project officer at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy (ICRAR) where she managed the citizen science project AstroQuest for three years. She originally studied Astronomy, then moved into a career in 3D animation and game development. After years of working as a technical artist on animations, visualisations, games, and educational projects,...

“Isn’t it great to have a job where you can show, and teach people about, the amazing underwater world and help to preserve it? “ Diana Kleine CoralWatch integrates global coral health monitoring with education and public outreach creating reef awareness using simple and engaging tools. This provides people with accessible information about coral reefs and climate change, and hands-on experience c...

Greg has recorded over 100000 observations on iNaturalist. He has a great interest in biodiversity and has become highly skilled in identifying plants in the field. Greg and Ian discuss some tips for using iNaturalist while taking part in the Great Southern BioBlitz 2023. They talk about the importance of practical experience and consider the role of formal qualifications in Citizen Science. More...

Jessie Oliver became passionate about animals, nature, and sharing information at a young age. This has led her to embark on wild journeys both in volunteer and professional roles focused on ecology, environmental education, and wildlife conservation in California, Hawai`i, New York, and Queensland. Since returning to Australia, she has been heavily involved with the Australian Citizen science Ass...

PossumPete teaches Ian how to find critters in a live BioBlitz walk during the Great Southern BioBlitz. They don't have to walk far into the Mooloolah River National Park to find some interesting observations and interactions with nature. Peter Crowcroft leads environmental education activities for all ages into the bush and beach of the Victorian Surf Coast to teach people about this incredible p...

Jess is a highly-motivated and passionate results-driven Environmental Scientist, experienced in all aspects of project management with a focus on volunteer engagement. She is currently coordinating the Streamwatch Program as the Local Landcare Coordinator. Jess has a background in professional bush regeneration with 20 years experience of working on conservation projects. She also has a strong vo...

Lila is an inspiring citizen scientist and one of the main people responsible for starting the City Nature Challenge. City Nature Challenge Invented by community science staff, Lila Higgins at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and Alison Young and Rebecca Johnson at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), the City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to fin...

Hugh remembers making bow and arrow sets from Chinese privet at Devlins Creek in the Sydney suburb of Epping. As an adult, he returned as a qualified bush regenerator, removing the Chinese privet and helping to restore the natural habitat. Hugh is an active Citizen Scientist and his work involves being the Creative Director at Foresight Education and Design as well as a long serving member of the...

Lindy and Randy talk turtle rescues, spider discoveries, BioBlltz, data gathering, stewardship and research. Cooloola Coast's natural ecosystems, habitats and species thrive under the protection of residents, visitors, government, Cooloola Coastcare and its partners. As a grassroots organisation, our Mission is to protect and restore Cooloola Coast’s species, habitats and ecosystems, for thei...

Sherry Bruce, a member of the BIEPA Wildlife Team, is passionate about Dugongs. Sherry explains why these beautiful animals need our protection and why Bribie Island is one of those special places where you can see Dugongs in their natural habitat. BIEPA's mission is to help life to flourish on our island sanctuary by: • protecting, maintaining, and restoring the native flora and fauna on and...

Jock Mackenzie is a tidal wetland ecologist and science communicator with over 15 years experience in field ecology. About 15 years ago Jock discovered how truly amazing and useful mangroves are and since then he has developed a passion for their conservation and protection. He’s continually surprised by the fascinating complex interactions that occur in this environment and the functional be...

Stuart took a photograph of a tiny spider in the bush land of his local Canberra and posted his image online. Some scientists and spider enthusiasts told him that he may have found a new species of peacock spider but it could only be verified as such by finding it again. For three years, Stuart revisited the area and eventually found the spider. Stuart tells his story, he explains that there are s...

Toni Massey is a commercially trained diver who is passionate about the possibilities of citizen science for the future of maritime discoveries. Toni explains the importance of sharing photos of corals and fishes when diving shipwrecks. Toni uses iNaturalist to document the species that she finds while diving and encourages anybody who is in the ocean to do the same. More Information: https://www....

Alex Chapman was for many years a Research Scientist at the Western Australian Herbarium in DBCA’s Science and Conservation Division managing the online publications and bioinformatics group there. He is a past editor of WA’s journal of systematic botany – Nuytsia and lectured in biodiversity informatics for the School of Natural Sciences at Edith Cowan University. In this episode, Alex emphasises...

Clare has researched and advised on wildlife population monitoring and conservation in academic, corporate, governmental and non-governmental organisations, with a focus on mammals including Madagascar’s fossa and flying foxes, and Tasmania’s spotted-tailed quolls and devils. After nine years as the Tasmanian Government’s threatened species zoologist, and a Churchill Fellowship on citizen science,...

Live from the Australian Citizen Science Association Conference 2023 Costa and Ian get philosophical and discuss the importance of childhood role models. Costa explains why it's important for adults to be role models for future generations of Citizen Scientists while Ian demonstrates an uncanny ability to synchronize with the natural world. More Information: https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz2...