Tag: urban ecology

Citizen Science & CBC radio One

May 19 2019 at 7:45 am The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park were on  CBC Radio One SASKATCHEWAN WEEKEND for the morning show with Shauna Powers on the Sunday May 19 2019 7:45 am show. If you did not catch the show live, please tune in here. The Wild About Saskatoon Nature City Festival kicks off this week May 21-26, 2019 with a theme

I Spy With My Wild Eye…

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Photo of Richard St. Barbe Baker Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71
Photo of Richard St. Barbe Baker Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
White-tailed Deer Fawn. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Saskatoon, SK, CA
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

The Festival keynote evening is at the Broadway Theatre at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, May 22, featuring Dr. Maureen Murray, a rising star in the field of urban ecology and an expert on urban coyotes.  She is joined on stage by a circle of voices from Saskatoon, offering a variety of inspiring ways to build a nature-friendly city.

Current global response insufficient;
‘Transformative changes’ needed to restore and protect nature;
Opposition from vested interests can be overcome for public good
Most comprehensive assessment of its kind;
1,000,000 species threatened with extinction. UN Report

At both the wild walks, we will learn about “Citizen Science” to make a connection with the natural world in place based learning.

“The Wild Walk” is on Tuesday May 21 6:30 – 8:00 pm out at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.  Join us in the South West Off Leash Recreation Area, and we will walk west out of the off leash dog park, and proceed to the wetlands, making observations as to the flora and fauna along the way.  Learn about Richard St. Barbe Baker along the way, who was the first honourary member of the World Wildlife Fund.

Try “The Wild Spring Walk” on Thursday May 23 6:30 – 8:00 pm by venturing out to the George Genereux Urban Regional Park.  We will start west of the CNR overpass which crosses SK Hwy 7, and walk south and west through the woodlands searching out spring wildlife and emergent plants.

Ten Principles of Citizen Science

  1. Citizen science projects actively involve citizens in scientific endeavour that generates new knowledge or understanding. Citizens may act as contributors, collaborators, or as project leader and have a meaningful role in the project.
  2. Citizen science projects have a genuine science outcome. For example, answering a research question or informing conservation action, management decisions or environmental policy.
  3. Both the professional scientists and the citizen scientists benefit from taking part. Benefits may include the publication of research outputs, learning opportunities, personal enjoyment, social benefits, satisfaction through contributing to scientific evidence e.g. to address local, national and international issues, and through that, the potential to influence policy.
  4. Citizen scientists may, if they wish, participate in multiple stages of the scientific process. This may include developing the research question, designing the method, gathering and analysing data, and communicating the results.
  5. Citizen scientists receive feedback from the project. For example, how their data are being used and what the research, policy or societal outcomes are.
  6. Citizen science is considered a research approach like any other, with limitations and biases that should be considered and controlled for. However unlike traditional research approaches, citizen science provides opportunity for greater public engagement and democratisation of science.
  7. Citizen science project data and meta-data are made publicly available and where possible, results are published in an open access format. Data sharing may occur during or after the project, unless there are security or privacy concerns that prevent this.
  8. Citizen scientists are acknowledged in project results and publications.
  9. Citizen science programmes are evaluated for their scientific output, data quality, participant experience and wider societal or policy impact.
  10. The leaders of citizen science projects take into consideration legal and ethical issues surrounding copyright, intellectual property, data sharing agreements, confidentiality, attribution, and the environmental impact of any activities.Source

“The diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems, as well as many fundamental contributions we derive from nature, are declining fast, although we still have the means to ensure a sustainable future for people and the planet.” said Professor Sandra Díaz

Come out for a Nature City Festival walk, engage in Citizen Science, learnt about WildObs Observer, Sci.Spy, Project Noah, iNaturalist, LeafSnap, and many other ways, you can contribute to Citizen Science.  There are many research projects are engaging millions of individuals young and old in the collection of scientific data. Citizen Science as a valuable tool for conservation in urban eeosystems.   “Public participation in scientific research,” participatory monitoring, and participatory action research often see advancements in scientific research, as well as an increase in the public’s understanding of science. “Citizen science can push conservation biology in residential ecosystems from being a “science of discovery” to a “science of engagement.”source

Aichi Biodiversity Targets

 

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