Karen Denyer, EO National Wetland Trust showing a tracking card monitored by volunteers

Citizen science in New Zealand is extremely dynamic and now is the perfect time to host a symposium and workshops that celebrates what we have achieved, strengthens and grows networks of practitioners, coordinators and decision-makers, and looks ahead to what place citizen science could have in New Zealand’s future. The following is a summary of what is planned for April 7-9 at Te Papa and in the wider Wellington area. Registration is coming very soon!

#CitSciNZ2018 – The lead in

The April 9 Symposium at Te Papa and associated workshops (April 7-8) mark the end of a 3-yr Ministry for the Environment funded project (CEF 421 Citizen Science meets Environmental Restoration). Shoulder-tapping has played a major role in bringing both the one-day Symposium and workshops together – largely because the environmental conservation and citizen science community in New Zealand is small and close-knit. However, as the citizen science movement expands and matures, so too will the scope of projects, range of disciplines and diversity of people involved.

#CitSciNZ2018 – Outcomes

The event is an opportunity to summarise activities underway, grow professional networks and think more deeply about what shape citizen science may take in the future. To progress discussions, one outcome sought is a working group. Meetings and field trips initiated through the NZLT citizen science project raised many barriers as well as solutions that need further unpacking and actioning.

NZ Landcare Trust coordinator Alastair Cole examines a koura (freshwater crayfish) with a cit sci workshop participant

Workshops April 7-8: Supporting hands-on practical learning

Workshops designed for community members are an opportunity to quantify restoration efforts, learn new skills and trial with new tools both in the field and indoors. And they’re all free of charge thanks to the generous support of workshops leaders (with some details around transport TBC). Participants can come to workshops without having to attend the April 9 Symposium. Here’s a summary of what is planned (more details and registration to follow shortly on the event webpage):

CitSciNZ2018 Symposium Draft Programme_March 6

Introduction and keynote 
It would be easy to fill a whole day with talks just about citizen science projects and tools in New Zealand given the amount of activities underway. After the welcome, a ‘current state of play’ for citizen science in this country will start the day, followed by a keynote on data quality. This topic has emerged (unsurprisingly) as a major barrier in accepting citizen-generated data for wider use both in NZ and internationally. US-based Andrea Wiggins (Associate Professor in Information Systems and Quantitative Data Analysis at the University of Nebraska, Omaha). She brings considerable expertise to the field, having researched public participation in data-intensive scientific collaboration (i.e. large-scale citizen science) and issues related to data management and technologies.

Short and long talks: NZ projects

The first half of the day provides a cross-section of initiatives both as 6-min (En)Lightening talks and 6 longer talks (10 mins) that include discussion panels for delving more deeply into content. Topics covered include using technology for biosecurity (camera traps, smartphone apps), running a BioBlitz, conducting predator control monitoring and freshwater monitoring, monitoring outcomes/indicator species (e.g., kiwi), designing national-scale citizen science initiatives, keeping volunteers engaged … with more topics under consideration.

Presentations: From NZ to international initiatives

A series of presentations will look at citizen science initiatives nationally (Curious Minds and the Participatory Science Platform) as well as what has occurred organisationally at an international level. Presentations in differing formats will be given by representatives from the European and Australian Citizen Science Associations as well as from a US perspective following the development of a federal community of citizen science practice and policy initiatives.

Discussion group feedback session

Round table discussions

To keep the day dynamic, a series of round table discussions (facilitated by speakers) will wrap up the day. Topics will respond to participants information needs but are likely to cover project evaluation, next steps forward for citizen science, enhancing data quality and designing projects to meet end user needs.

Citizen science EXPO! April 9

Symposium participants will be able to showcase their citizen science activities/projects to the public in Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer (L1). Freestanding poster boards (c. 940mm x 2040mm) are available for posters, flyers, photographs and space is also available for pull-up banners on projects. An hour-long networking and learning session around the displays will take place over afternoon tea.

PS – costs

These will stay low – $30 for community and $120 for professional/business.

For further information, contact citizenscience@landcare.org.nz