Presentation given at the Biodiversity Informatics Horizon 2013 conference in Rome, Sept. 2013

1. Doing science while having fun
Experiences from the
marine citizen science project
Sarah Faulwetter, C. Arvanitidis, T. Dailianis, G. Chatzigeorgiou, E. Panteri, W. Plaiti,
N. Prentiss, C. Dounas, P. Koulouri, S. Artemiou, A Vlasiou, G. Pinsoglio

2. citizen science
80 million

3. citizen science
waarnemingen.be
waarneming.nl
observado.org
artportalen.se
naturgucker.de
80 million distribution records

4. citizen science
waarnemingen.be
waarneming.nl
observado.org
artportalen.se
naturgucker.de
80 million distribution records
ca. 400 million
distribution records

5. why involve citizens?
●
lack of resources –> huge workforce

6. why involve citizens?
●
lack of resources –> huge workforce
●
specialised knowledge /skills of “amateurs”

7. why involve citizens?
●
lack of resources –> huge workforce
●
specialised knowledge /skills of “amateurs”
●
outreach to society at large

8. why involve citizens?
●
lack of resources –> huge workforce
●
specialised knowledge /skills of “amateurs”
●
outreach to society at large
●
… because we can!

9. publications1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Number of publications per year in Google Scholar for the search phrase
biodiversity “citizen science”

10. http://www.comber.hcmr.gr/

11. implementation
●
since 2011
●
6 diving and sailing clubs in Greece
●
seminars in dive schools and cretaquarium by
scientists
●
guided dives (underwater training)
●
target taxon: fish

12. protocol / approach
BIOWATCH underwater fish card

13. protocol / approach
quantifying observations...
… using
abundance classes
none few (1-3) some (4-10) many (>10)

14. data collection
●
data entry
●
personal log
●
photo gallery
●
forum
●
reward system
●
Drupal 6

15. data collection

16. incentives for participants
●
learning about nature – free seminars
●
contribution to the expansion of knowledge
●
acknowledgement in scientific publications
●
playful elements on website (ranking system)
●
free fish identification card
●
discount rates at Cretaquarium / dive clubs

17. results 2011-2013
year users dives records
2011 48 95 1879
2012 93 274 3732
2013 119 345 4457

18. results 2011

19. results 2011

20. results 2011-2013

21. Lessons learned ...
… for COMBER
… for the biodiversity (informatics) community

22. lessons learned
successful as a pilot project, but...

23. lessons learned
output
effort
successful as a pilot project, but...

24. lessons learned
not scalable

25. lessons learned
top-down approach

26. lessons learned
top-down approach bottom-up approach

27. future priorities
redefine approach & target group
minimise guidance, focus on support
do not impose restrictions

28. top-down approach
lessons learned

29. inspiration
lessons learned
top-down approach

30. inspiration
games
fun
lessons learned
top-down approach

31. lessons learned
inspiration
games
fun
team spirit
top-down approach

32. lessons learned
inspiration
attribution
rewards
feedback
games
fun
team spirit
top-down approach

33. lessons learned
citizen science = huge potential

34. lessons learned
citizen science = huge potential
citizen science = huge challenge

35. lessons learned
citizen science = huge potential
citizen science = huge challenge

36. lessons learned
citizen science = huge potential
citizen science = huge challenge

37. lessons learned
citizen science = huge potential
citizen science = huge challenge
workforce
knowledge

38. lessons learned
tools
inspiration
citizen science = huge potential
citizen science = huge challenge
workforce
knowledge

39. lessons learned
bottom-up approach

40. lessons learned
databases with
millions of records
bottom-up approach

41. lessons learned
databases with
millions of records
mobilise these data
bottom-up approach

42. lessons learned
databases with
millions of record
mobilise these data
bottom-up approach

43. lessons learned
tools

44. lessons learned
tools
(software)

45. lessons learned
tools
(software)
easy to set up & use

46. lessons learned
tools
(software)
customisable for different
projects and users
easy to set up & use

47. lessons learned
tools
(software)
customisable for different
projects and users
easy to set up & use
reward system

48. lessons learned
tools
(software)
customisable for different
projects and users
easy to set up & use
social network-like
(interactions)
reward system

49. lessons learned
tools
(software)
customisable for different
projects and users
easy to set up & use
social network-like
(interactions)
reward system
data entry from
mobile devices

50. lessons learned
tools
(software)
customisable for different
projects and users
easy to set up & use
social network-like
(interactions)
reward system
data entry from
mobile devices
interoperable

51. lessons learned

52. lessons learned
citizen science module
(development version)

53. lessons learned

54. challenges
mobilise users (incentives)
mobilise data (tools)

55. food for thought
but we also need to think about ...
●
priority areas
●
target users
●
workflows & concepts
●
quality control mechanisms
●
connecting professionals with amateurs
●
re-using and exchanging information
●
outreach

56. food for thought
but we also need to think about ...
●
priority areas
●
target users
●
workflows & concepts
●
quality control mechanisms
●
connecting professionals with amateurs
●
re-using and exchanging information
●
outreach (“scientist in a box”)

57. food for thought
but we also need to think about ...
●
priority areas
●
target users
●
workflows & concepts
●
quality control mechanisms
●
connecting professionals with amateurs
●
re-using and exchanging information
●
outreach (“scientist in a box”)

58. food for thought
but we also need to think about ...
●
priority areas
●
target users
●
workflows & concepts
●
quality control mechanisms
●
connecting professionals with amateurs
●
re-using and exchanging information
●
outreach (“scientist in a box”)
… citizen science infrastructure ?