Welcome to the Citizen Science Show, a place to share stories of purpose about the natural world.
We explore the diverse activities of passionate people who record observations, gather empirical evidence and use technology to uncover scientific proof for positive social, cultural and political change.
We hope that these stories will inspire and encourage you to take action and become a Citizen Scientist.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Citizen Science Show, a place to share stories of purpose about the natural world.
We explore the diverse activities of passionate people who record observations, gather empirical evidence and use technology to uncover scientific proof for positive social, cultural and political change.
We hope that these stories will inspire and encourage you to take action and become a Citizen Scientist.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Presenting at CitSciOz25 gave me the chance to share a project that has reshaped how I think about science, trust and the way people connect with their local environment.
The Great Australian Wildlife Search began as a collaboration between the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, the Odonata Foundation and EnviroDNA, but it quickly grew into something far bigger once communities stepped in.
Our aim was simple: gather a broad biodiversity snapshot across the vast Murray–Darling Basin using environmental DNA and the enthusiasm of people who know their waterways best.
More Information
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Stempel is the president of the Australian Speleological Federation,. He leads a community of nearly a thousand volunteers exploring and protecting Australia’s vast underground landscapes.
Formed in 1956 in Adelaide, the federation—soon to be rebranded as Caves Australia—unites 26 clubs across the nation. Every caver contributes to a growing digital archive, preserving decades of handwritten expedition reports that map the unseen beneath our feet.
Andrew became president in January 2025. Originally from the United States, he moved to Australia in 2014, discovered caving in 2018, and has since spent more than 4,000 hours underground.
With a background in molecular cell biology, he left the laboratory for outdoor education and now merges both worlds through citizen science. This month, he begins a PhD studying ancient DNA from the strange creatures of Australia’s caves.
More Information
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the Royal Botanic Gardens in Victoria, mycologist Dr Tom May devotes his work to exploring the vast and often unseen world of fungi. His focus is taxonomy—identifying, classifying, and cataloguing the remarkable diversity of fungal species across Australia.
Within the Gardens’ Fungarium, Tom oversees a collection of more than 100,000 preserved specimens, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Each sample is carefully documented, its data shared with the Atlas of Living Australia, ensuring that this vital record contributes to the nation’s broader understanding of biodiversity.
More Information
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the CitSciOz25 conference in Melbourne, Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins spoke about her work with the Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics, an organisation that connects government, industry, research institutions, and citizen scientists to protect waterways around Townsville and the Great Barrier Reef.
Kara-Mae describes her role as a data end user—someone who turns raw data collected by others into meaningful tools for decision-making.
Each year, her small team analyses more than thirty thousand data points to produce a catchment-wide report card, combining indicators such as coral, seagrass, and fish health with water quality results to present a single, comprehensive picture of the region’s ecosystems.
More Information
https://www.drytropicshealthywaters.org/
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the CitSciOz25 conference in Melbourne, one presenter stood out not just for his enthusiasm but for his age. Twelve-year-old David Mabb, the youngest speaker at the Australian Citizen Science Association event, has already spent half his life immersed in the world of BioBlitzing. His fascination with nature began when his mother, Michelle, took him along to one of her own citizen science events, and it has grown ever since.
More Information
https://mrccc.org.au/find-a-frog-in-february-2025/
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the CitSciOz25 conference, Dr Jack Nunn presented a discussion paper created in collaboration with the Australian Citizen Science Association and the Australian Academy of Science’s Theo Murphy Institute. Using participatory methods, the team explored the challenges within citizen science and identified ways to improve it.
Over fifty contributors provided more than sixteen thousand words of input, which were analysed using STARDIT—Standardised Data on Initiatives—an open platform hosted by Wikimedia Australia.
The tool allows users to document who did what, which methods and funding were used, and what outcomes were achieved. By gathering this information across many projects, researchers can begin to identify effective practices and move towards truly evidence-informed approaches.
More Information
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the Citizen Science Conference in Melbourne, Gregory Andrews spoke with both urgency and hope. A Dharawal man from southwest Sydney, Gregory describes his deep connection to Country, believing that every Australian shares a similar bond when they live respectfully with the land. His totem, the lyrebird, guides his life’s work. Like the lyrebird that speaks many languages, Gregory has spent his career building bridges between cultures, communities, and the natural world.
More Information
https://www.lyrebirddreaming.com/
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After more than two decades in the university sector, Fiona Sutton Wilson realised that middle management no longer fulfilled her desire to make a tangible difference. Surrounded by policy and research, she felt drawn toward work that would more directly benefit the environment. A turning point came during a week-long bush retreat with a group of women, where the quiet of nature reawakened her childhood love of the natural world—memories of exploring with her botanist father and discovering native orchids resurfaced, reigniting her environmental passion.
More Information
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz25/
About The Citizen Science Show Podcast
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the Australian Museum, Nadiah Roslan coordinates FrogID, a citizen science project that has transformed the understanding of frog conservation since its launch in 2017. Supported by Inspiring Australia and IBM, FrogID began with a simple idea—use smartphones to listen to frogs and turn their calls into valuable scientific data. Each frog species has a unique sound, making acoustic monitoring an effective, non-invasive way to study biodiversity across Australia. By pointing a phone toward a calling frog, anyone can contribute meaningful information to science.
More Information
About The Show
This episode of the Citizen Science Show podcast is coming to you from CitSciOz25 the Australian Citizen Science Association conference, in Melbourne Connect, a world-class innovation precinct at The University of Melbourne.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Megan Halcroft never imagined that her fascination with bees would begin while studying horticultural science after years of working as a nurse. What started with a unit on apiculture evolved into a lifelong commitment to understanding and protecting Australia’s native bees.
Megan started Australian Pollinator Week which was launched in 2015 with 26 events, gaining recognition from the Environmental Trust.
Pollinator Week has become far more than a scientific outreach program. Across the country, communities host creative and educational events, from workshops to art installations inspired by pollinators. One project built chandeliers from clay leaves in tribute to leaf cutter bees, while another turned bamboo into musical wind-chime sculptures. These activities highlight how art and science can work together to connect people to nature.
More Information
https://www.beesbusiness.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/beeawareofyournativebees
https://www.australianpollinatorweek.org.au/count/
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the Mediterranean to the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, the sea has shaped every chapter of Lucia Morillo’s life. Raised between Barcelona and Minorca, she grew up with a profound respect for the ocean and its inhabitants. That early connection guided her path through academia, where she earned a PhD in genetics and molecular biology. After completing her thesis, Lucia decided that her knowledge should serve a greater purpose. Two weeks later, she boarded the Age of Union, a Sea Shepherd vessel in Namibia, to join the fight against illegal fishing. She has been at sea ever since.
More Information
https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Debbie Breen is the senior koala coordinator for Hunter Wildlife Rescue, NSW, Australia. She has been caring for koalas and wombats for over 30 years.
Alexis Ting is a passionate volunteer who works tirelessly on animal rescues and has been with Hunter Wildlife Rescue for over 5 years.
Together they have been compiling data on Koala Populations helping to track Chlamydia pecorum and working with local councils to mitigate road fatalities of these endangered animals.
If you see an injured animal in the Hunter NSW region of Australia, please call the Animal Rescue Line on 0418 628 483.
More Information
https://www.hunterwildlife.org.au/
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Faith Coleman is an estuarine ecologist who specialises in aquatic microbia, water chemistry and sediment dynamics.
She is currently involved in studying and collecting data in relation to the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) off the South Australian coastline.
You can see images of Karenia and the research on the Facebook page; Phytoplankton of South Australia.
More information
https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-coleman/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1315762396637652
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tonight on the show we are talking to two guests who are leading the way in biodiversity monitoring and conservation by using technology to enable land owners to monitor their land through the model of land libraries.
In partnership with participating land owners, Education Program Team Leader Alice McGrath of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and Aaron Clausen, Founder and Director of NatureMapr are building pro-active communities with local experts to bridge the gap between land owners, government, scientists and citizen scientists.
More Information
https://naturemapr.org/collections/12418
Free Online Conservation Course with the BCT
https://www.bct.nsw.gov.au/elearning
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kerri Duncan is an animal science and communication specialist who is working for the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia
She is a passionate bird and nature nerd and the coordinator of the national Orange-bellied Parrot recovery team.
More Information
https://www.obprecoveryteam.org/
https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/
https://birdlife.org.au/?srsltid=AfmBOorivJpthHcowa4mEQ_A8_sViT56FXkWSF0lBDH_XTkPsLS43zNR
https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/southwest-national-park/melaleuca
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Capri Joliffe is a research specialist, collecting scientific data on the largest animals on the Earth, the blue whale.
The scientific insights that she is capturing will have far reaching implications for our management of sea traffic, mining and tourism.
More Information
https://www.marineresearch.org.au/?page_id=1484
https://www.marineresearch.org.au/?page_id=199
https://www.jasco.com/news/2024/dr-capri-jolliffe-joins-jasco-australia-as-technical-director
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anke Maria Hoefer an enthusiastic and energetic morphologist and behavioural ecologist who studied Garden Skinks for her post graduate studies at the Australian National University.
She is focused on creating inclusive environments for communities, is an advocate for Citizen Science and has been running the ACT & Region FrogWatch Program since 2011.
More Information
https://ginninderralandcare.org.au/frogwatch/
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the Hunter Science Festival in Newcastle, Mark Murray of the Newcastle Astronomical Society shared his enthusiasm for the night sky, which is matched only by his deep knowledge of it. The Society had hosted an observing night at Lake Macquarie the evening before, registering 400 attendees despite poor weather. On the festival day itself, the sun shone down on the museum grounds where curious visitors gathered to learn more.
More Information
https://www.facebook.com/newcastleastrosociety/
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the heart of the Newcastle Museum during National Science Week, Macker McKrell from the Hunter Innovation and Science Hub (HISH) introduced children to the world of robotics. His aim was simple yet profound: to give young people the opportunity to play, experiment, and explore why things move and how they can be controlled. He emphasised that this curiosity is vital, particularly in a country like Australia, which is struggling to keep pace with the rest of the world in robotics.
More Information
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the Hunter Science Festival in Newcastle, botanist Lily Mickaill spoke with conviction and warmth about her work in seed conservation. Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, she represents a new generation of scientists dedicating their careers to protecting biodiversity. Her focus lies on something deceptively small yet enormously powerful: seeds.
More Information
https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/our-science/science-facilities/australian-plantbank
Contact the Show
We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.
You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.