PESTA seminar (22.07.20)

Using Citizen Science for Research and Engagement: Lessons from EchidnaCSI.

Professor Frank Grützner (School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide)

The echidna conservation science initiative uses a citizen science approach to collect echidna sightings and scat samples for molecular analysis Australia wide. With less than 2 years running EchidnaCSI has attracted more than 8,000 participants recording more than 5,000 echidna sightings, the largest a single study has produced. In addition, over 350 scats have been sent in providing invaluable material for genetic analysis including investigation of echidna diet and gastric health. I will discuss our experience in designing and running a citizen science project as well as our future plans to use EchidnaCSI as an example to connect teaching research and public engagement at the University of Adelaide.

When: 22 July 2020, 10-11 AM

Where: Online. Please RSVP to pesta@adelaide.edu.au

Professor Frank Grützner moved to the University of Adelaide in 2005, where he is an ARC Australian Research Fellow and group leader at the School of Biological Sciences. He has worked in the field of comparative genome biology in many different species and published extensively in leading international journals including Nature, Nature Genetics and Science.