Wild Scrutiny – Design challenge fostering public involvement in wildlife research , Silvan / Australien

 

UNI competitions - UNIEGIS NETWORK Private Limited, New Delhi

 

WILDLIFE RESEARCH APPROACH

In the past, scientists have often found it useful to employ citizen science as a research format for data collection. 

 

Quite simply, citizen science involves the collaboration between scientists and citizen volunteers in an attempt to investigate a plethora of topics. This format of research has gained an increase in momentum in today’s world, with a rapidly growing group of interested public participants, but it is certainly not a novel research format. 

 

In fact, this collaborative approach to data collection has had a long-standing history with wildlife biology. Modern ornithology, for example, continues to benefit from the “Migration Observer Cards” - cards developed by scientific data collected by enthusiasts since the late 19th Century.

 

As we grapple with increasing challenges to our natural environment, can we imagine spaces that can promote scientist-citizen collaboration?

 

WHY COLLABORATE WITH CITIZENS?

Involving the public in data collection has often been approached warily, owing primarily to concerns regarding the misuse of data for the exploitation of natural species. 

 

However, the value of transparency and collaboration in many cases is more valuable than secrecy. Collecting data from citizens in some cases may require special effort and sensitivity but, in many more cases, it merely involves recording what one encounters while bird watching, hunting, hiking, scouting, etc. 

 

By promoting awareness, making data openly available, and actively involving citizens researchers often have the opportunity to educate local communities about natural flora and fauna and enable them to fight to protect a habitat when development is threatening a species.

 

Furthermore, research exponentially benefits from having more eyes and ears that can accurately identify species in one‘s environment.

 

ENCOURAGE CITIZEN COLLABORATION IN RESEARCH

As the world faces the looming human-made threat to the environment, a collaboration between researchers and citizens becomes more essential.

 

Including citizens in wildlife biology has the opportunity to not just foster awareness but it can also tap into a wider data collection pool, increase sensitivity to the natural world and enable effective implementation of environmental policies. 

 

 

The space should welcome novice wildlife enthusiasts, allow them to learn by providing basic know-how and encourage them to implement and record their findings in the surrounding natural environment.

 

The design should contain spaces to collate and analyse data for wildlife researchers to access. The aim of the competition is to come up with unique design solutions to better citizen-scientist relationships to foster wildlife research.

 

Minimum eligible age for participation is 18 years.

There is no restriction to the degree or design disciplines to participate in the challenge.

Participation in the competition can happen in a team as well as an individual.

There is no restriction to the number of members who can participate in a team.

The challenge is open worldwide for anyone to participate.

 

13 June 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Regular registration ends

14 June 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Submission ends

29 June 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Shortlisted entries announced

05 July 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Jury evaluation starts

29 July 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Jury evaluation ends

30 July 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Public voting ends

11 August 2022, 5:00 PM GMT+02:00 – Result announcement