From a database on reptiles to backyard bird surveys, here is a comprehensive list of active citizen science initiatives in India.
As published in Nature inFocus on October 29, 2021.
How many times have you looked at a bird in your backyard and wondered if you have seen it before? Or stopped to click a photo of a flower that looks unfamiliar? Or wondered if a tree in your neighbourhood is flowering earlier than usual? Did you know that these nonchalant observations are vital data points that can aid researchers in their studies regarding the impacts of climate change, in identifying new species, and in comprehending the distribution of a particular plant/animal? Citizen science programmes help reduce the barrier between the scientific community and citizens while enabling better data collection and better monitoring of the world around us.
Citizen science is not a new concept. It is believed that in the late 1800s, American ornithologist Wells Cooke formed a network of individuals to collect information on bird migration—one of the earliest known examples of a citizen science programme. At the time, volunteers recorded the data on cards. Today, it is far easier to gather precise information thanks to the smartphone and the internet. From reptiles to birds to fireflies—several citizen science programmes in India are looking to add to their ever-expanding database. If you are interested in contributing to citizen science, but wondering where to start, here is a list of active programmes that can help.
Read the complete story here. –> Make Your Photographs Count With These Citizen Science Projects