Citizen Science Show: Recent Episodes
Citizen Science Show
Citizen Science Show aims to bridge the gap between the professional scientific institutions and ordinary people.
Our goal is to provide an open and honest platform for discussion about important issues and through inquiry, understand ways that ordinary people can help by using the scientific method.
We investigate how the collection and processing of scientific data can be used to benefit our society. We believe that the combination of our inquiry and your actions can lead to positive change.
Anastasia Guise is a grass-roots journalist, qualified ecologist, and published author.
When not writing, she works as a landcare leader in her intentional community in the Northern rivers.
Anastasia trains citizen science teams with a particular focus on forest protection.
More Information
https://anastasiadeguise.wixsite.com/author
https://firestories.com.au/
https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/groups/greater-sydney-landcare-network-inc/streamwatch/
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/conservation-programs/bionet
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Jessica Raintree is happiest when she is exploring the bush or underwater treasure hunting for cool creatures.
She has been running the Biocontrol Facility at Mooloolah River Landcare for the past five years and helps to enable citizen scientists to follow their passion through field activities.
Jessica helps members of the community take positive environmental action through projects including Trees for Resilience.
More Information
https://mrl.org.au/
https://www.facebook.com/mooloolahnativenursery
https://www.instagram.com/mooloolahriverlandcare
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Vanessa Pirotta is a passionate science communicator who uses drones to collect whale snot and AI to detect illegal wildlife trafficking.
She is a successful author on the topic of humpback whale biology and ecology in Australian waters.
More Information
https://www.vanessapirotta.com
https://www.wildsydneyharbour.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEN8pxOh0fU
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Tonight’s guest has lived his passion from the age of fifteen. Little did he know, he would become an underwater photographer and filmmaker. His underwater career has spanned sixty years and he has won numerous underwater photography awards. He is also a dive tour pioneer and recently has extended his tours to include wildlife photography safaris in Africa. He was a dive centre owner and PADI dive master instructor. From Sydney Australia, welcome to the show, Kevin Deacon
More Information
https://www.dive2000.com.au/
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It's widely believed that the Australian cane toad problem belongs to Queensland. Tonight's guest tells us news to the contrary.
Daniel McCawley trained and worked as a computer game designer but found that reality was more fun than virtual reality.
On the show, describes how the cane toads have migrated south into the Clarence Region.
His new game is being on the front line of defence in New South Wales to help eradicate the Queensland cane toad.
Are you ready to play?
More Information:
https://clarencelandcare.com.au/
https://www.frogid.net.au/
https://www.feralscan.org.au/
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Today’s special guest is a marine biologist, marine ecologist and an internationally renowned whale researcher, Dr Olaf Meynecke.
He graduated in Environmental Sciences at the University of Lueneburg, Germany and then travelled to Australia and completed a PhD at Griffith University, Queensland. His PhD research focused upon the relationship between commercial fish harvesting and the environmental drivers influencing fish populations.
He is currently managing an international research project on the impacts of climate change on whales and studies the health of humpback whales primarily in south-eastern Queensland.
He is also the CEO and co-founder of Humpbacks & High-Rises Inc, a not for profit research organization dedicated to marine mammal research and protection. This organisation is supported by a number of associate Researchers and also Citizen Scientists.
More Information
https://www.hhr.org.au/
https://www.dr-olaf.com/
https://experts.griffith.edu.au/8358-olaf-meynecke
https://twitter.com/DrOlaf_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-olaf-meynecke-8b504b39/
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Stephen Axford is a world renowned fungi photographer. His time-lapse photography of fungi has featured in award-winning documentaries including Planet Earth II and the IMAX feature, Fungi: Web of Life with Merlin Sheldrake.
Catherine Marciniak is a Director, Cinematographer and Editor. Together they produce a wonderful YouTube channel called Planet Fungi and their latest project is a new feature documentary called Follow The Rain.
More Information
https://www.planetfungi.movie/
https://www.youtube.com/@PlanetFungi
https://fungimap.org.au/
https://www.spun.earth/about/team
https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/imax-movie
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Today’s special guest is a Marine Biologist, an internationally renowned Coral Reef Ecologist & Researcher, a Prawn Aquaculture researcher and a highly experienced and highly qualified Scuba Diver.
Dr Paul Muir talks about his coral reef scientific research.
Paul describes the makeup and structure of corals and comments on the latest coral bleaching event that is happening on The Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
More Information:
http://www.mesophotic.org/members/123
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=IokNTz0AAAAJ&hl=en
https://blog.qm.qld.gov.au/2021/04/19/5-minutes-with-dr-paul-muir-research-officer-and-collection-manager-corals/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul-Muir
https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/learning-resources/learnings/stem-careers-dr-paul-muir-marine-biologist
https://youtu.be/PtvUp4u_sks?feature=shared
Thumbnail image copyright Queensland Museum
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Gina Mascord is a true wildlife warrior and citizen scientist with a heart of gold and the patience of a saint to get the magnificent images of the underwater marine life that are dear to her heart. In this episode Gina talks about her recent experience helping to clear out fishing line from Swansea channel and offers some advice for those people who love to dive in the channel.
Gina has submitted an impressive amount of observations to nature databases:
iNaturalist
Red Map
When not planning trips or doing photography volunteers time to groups:
CHUG Combined Hunter Underwater Group
OCCI Ocean Coastal Care Initiatives
Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast
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Les Graham is not just living proof that a lifetime of dedication can make a difference to the environment but also to people. He started his SCUBA diving in 1958. He could not afford to buy a regulator on an apprentice wage so decided to build one himself.
Les came from England with his wife Fran as 10 Pound Poms and became dedicated SCUBA divers. In 1968 together they opened a dive centre at Terrigal Haven in New South Wales. Les and Fran were active divers and citizen scientists on the Great Barrier Reef and locally for the Australian Museum. He is responsible for positioning the anchor at Terrigal Haven and highly influential in the scuttling of the EX HMAS Adelaide.
More Information:
https://terrigalunderwatergroup.com/
https://www.urgdiveclub.org.au/
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Judy was introduced to birdwatching when she was a child by her Grandmother. This began a life-long love of bird watching but it wasn't until 2009 that she got her first set of binoculars.
Today, Judy holds an A-Class bird banding licence and is an active member of the Hunter Bird Observers Cub. She explains how the birds are caught and banded, what are the common threats to birds and bird habitat and the important role that bird banding plays in the scientific study of birds.
More Information
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/science-research/bird-bat-banding
https://www.hboc.org.au/
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Lisa first got involved in citizen science as a project officer at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy (ICRAR) where she managed the citizen science project AstroQuest for three years.
She originally studied Astronomy, then moved into a career in 3D animation and game development. After years of working as a technical artist on animations, visualisations, games, and educational projects, Lisa became interested in “serious games” – games that have other goals than just entertainment. She has completed a PhD about engaging the public in climate change using games, and has also worked on serious game projects for organisations like the Department of Road Safety and Surf Life Saving WA.
More Information
https://citizenscience.org.au/author/lisa-evans
https://astroquest.net.au/
https://www.zooniverse.org/
https://www.icrar.org/
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“Isn’t it great to have a job where you can show, and teach people about, the amazing underwater world and help to preserve it? “ Diana Kleine
CoralWatch integrates global coral health monitoring with education and public outreach creating reef awareness using simple and engaging tools. This provides people with accessible information about coral reefs and climate change, and hands-on experience collecting scientific data on coral bleaching using the Coral Health Chart.
The chart is an easy-to-use tool to quantify changes in coral colour associated with coral bleaching on the reef. It is so simple, no prior training is needed and anyone can get involved. The chart is used in the field and classroom, is available in 12 languages and data on >230.000 corals from >1910 reefs in 79 countries is publicly accessible.
CoralWatch also provides regular workshops for communities, teachers and students, and has developed a range of high quality educational materials such as books, DVD, curriculum linked lesson plans. Many of these are freely available.
More Information
https://coralwatch.org/
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Greg has recorded over 100000 observations on iNaturalist. He has a great interest in biodiversity and has become highly skilled in identifying plants in the field.
Greg and Ian discuss some tips for using iNaturalist while taking part in the Great Southern BioBlitz 2023.
They talk about the importance of practical experience and consider the role of formal qualifications in Citizen Science.
More Information
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/people/gregtasney
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Jessie Oliver became passionate about animals, nature, and sharing information at a young age. This has led her to embark on wild journeys both in volunteer and professional roles focused on ecology, environmental education, and wildlife conservation in California, Hawai`i, New York, and Queensland. Since returning to Australia, she has been heavily involved with the Australian Citizen science Association (ACSA) since it’s inception in 2014, and she is currently serving as the ACSA Executive Officer part time. Her experiences with citizen science also led her to take on a part-time PhD, where she is exploring the how the design of today’s technology can shape people’s experiences with citizen science, analysing audio recordings, and saving wildlife.
More Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessieloliver/
https://citizenscience.org.au/
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PossumPete teaches Ian how to find critters in a live BioBlitz walk during the Great Southern BioBlitz. They don't have to walk far into the Mooloolah River National Park to find some interesting observations and interactions with nature.
Peter Crowcroft leads environmental education activities for all ages into the bush and beach of the Victorian Surf Coast to teach people about this incredible place through his eyes as a biologist and naturalist.
To see the photos that PossumPete was taking during this episode you can go to possumpete profile on iNaturalist. at the link below.
More Information:
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/people/possumpete
https://www.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/Environmental-Education/Our-Environmental-Education-Team/Pete-Crowcroft
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/mooloolah-river/about
Photo Links
Wasp: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192759700
Huntsman: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192759701
Fly: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192759705
White-throated Honeyeater: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192771475
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Jess is a highly-motivated and passionate results-driven Environmental Scientist, experienced in all aspects of project management with a focus on volunteer engagement.
She is currently coordinating the Streamwatch Program as the Local Landcare Coordinator.
Jess has a background in professional bush regeneration with 20 years experience of working on conservation projects. She also has a strong volunteering background with 20 years experience volunteering for her local WIRES branch and has been a passionate volunteer for Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Service.
She prides herself on delivering positive business outcomes by engaging with all levels of the community.
More Information:
https://greatersydneylandcare.org/
https://greatersydneylandcare.org/streamwatch/
https://www.waterbugblitz.org.au/
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Lila is an inspiring citizen scientist and one of the main people responsible for starting the City Nature Challenge.
City Nature Challenge
Invented by community science staff, Lila Higgins at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and Alison Young and Rebecca Johnson at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), the City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe. It’s a bioblitz-style competition where cities are in a friendly contest with each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people.
Started in 2016 for the first-ever Citizen Science Day, the community science teams at NHM and California Academy of Sciences dreamed up the City Nature Challenge as a fun way to capitalize on their home cities’ friendly rivalry and hold an event around urban biodiversity. The first City Nature Challenge was an eight-day competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, engaging residents and visitors in documenting nature to better understand urban biodiversity.
More Information:
https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/
https://nhm.org/
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Hugh remembers making bow and arrow sets from Chinese privet at Devlins Creek in the Sydney suburb of Epping.
As an adult, he returned as a qualified bush regenerator, removing the Chinese privet and helping to restore the natural habitat.
Hugh is an active Citizen Scientist and his work involves being the Creative Director at Foresight Education and Design as well as a long serving member of the community based conservation group, The Friends of Glebe Wetlands.
The Friends of Glebe Wetlands Inc. is a local conservation group in Bega NSW Australia, made up of people who care for the important habitat at the Glebe Wetlands that is home to native wildlife including the Grey-headed Flying Fox.
More Information:
https://www.friendsofglebewetlands.org
https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglebewetlands
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Lindy and Randy talk turtle rescues, spider discoveries, BioBlltz, data gathering, stewardship and research.
Cooloola Coast's natural ecosystems, habitats and species thrive under the protection of residents, visitors, government, Cooloola Coastcare and its partners.
As a grassroots organisation, our Mission is to protect and restore Cooloola Coast’s species, habitats and ecosystems, for their own sake, and to enrich the lives of current and future generations .
Our stewardship includes:
Taking on-ground ACTION in nature
EDUCATING for better practices;
ADVOCATING to influence policy development, regulation, and decision-making;
RESEARCH that enlarges understanding and appreciation of Cooloola’s nature.
More Information:
https://www.cooloolacoastcare.org.au
https://www.facebook.com/CooloolaCoastcare
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Sherry Bruce, a member of the BIEPA Wildlife Team, is passionate about Dugongs.
Sherry explains why these beautiful animals need our protection and why Bribie Island is one of those special places where you can see Dugongs in their natural habitat.
BIEPA's mission is to help life to flourish on our island sanctuary by:
• protecting, maintaining, and restoring the native flora and fauna on and around the island;
• monitoring and improving the natural environment, including the surrounding waters;
• influencing urban development and promoting sustainable ecotourism; and
• proactively engaging with the local community to grow our membership and raise funds and awareness.
More Information:
https://www.biepa.online/
https://www.biepa.online/post/for-dugong-lovers-this-national-science-week
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1141828/brisbane-mascot-2032
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Jock Mackenzie is a tidal wetland ecologist and science communicator with over 15 years experience in field ecology. About 15 years ago Jock discovered how truly amazing and useful mangroves are and since then he has developed a passion for their conservation and protection. He’s continually surprised by the fascinating complex interactions that occur in this environment and the functional benefits they provide to people in coastal areas.
Jock talks about the importance of Mangroves for the health of our oceans and as a method of carbon sequestration.
More Information:
http://mangrovewatch.org.au/
https://earthwatch.org.au/about-us/people/our-team/jock-mackenzie
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Stuart took a photograph of a tiny spider in the bush land of his local Canberra and posted his image online.
Some scientists and spider enthusiasts told him that he may have found a new species of peacock spider but it could only be verified as such by finding it again.
For three years, Stuart revisited the area and eventually found the spider.
Stuart tells his story, he explains that there are so many more species to be found and that Citizen Scientist may just be the way to do this.
You can watch the documentary that tells his story at the YouTube link below.
More Information:
https://canberra.naturemapr.org/
https://youtu.be/dKgZ0ziRyow?si=6gjxj7Pn9TpxiLpF
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Toni Massey is a commercially trained diver who is passionate about the possibilities of citizen science for the future of maritime discoveries. Toni explains the importance of sharing photos of corals and fishes when diving shipwrecks.
Toni uses iNaturalist to document the species that she finds while diving and encourages anybody who is in the ocean to do the same.
More Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-massey-7b523168/?originalSubdomain=au
https://www.des.qld.gov.au/
https://independent.academia.edu/MasseyToni
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Alex Chapman was for many years a Research Scientist at the Western Australian Herbarium in DBCA’s Science and Conservation Division managing the online publications and bioinformatics group there. He is a past editor of WA’s journal of systematic botany – Nuytsia and lectured in biodiversity informatics for the School of Natural Sciences at Edith Cowan University.
In this episode, Alex emphasises the importance of Citizen Science. He explains how you can get involved by finding a local project, joining up and contributing data.
More Information:
https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/
https://citizenscience.org.au/acsa-regional-chapters/acsa-wa/
https://www.freonet.net/
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Clare has researched and advised on wildlife population monitoring and conservation in academic, corporate, governmental and non-governmental organisations, with a focus on mammals including Madagascar’s fossa and flying foxes, and Tasmania’s spotted-tailed quolls and devils. After nine years as the Tasmanian Government’s threatened species zoologist, and a Churchill Fellowship on citizen science, she joined forces with the Bookend Trust, to establish the NatureTrackers program and the ‘Extinction Matters’ BioBlitzes. Based at the University of Tasmania, she collaborates with individuals and organisations to coordinate and strengthen citizen science participation in mapping and long-term monitoring Tasmania’s threatened species.
Bookend Trust is a not-for-profit education initiative that seeks to inspire students and their communities with positive environmental engagement that helps make the world a better place.
More Information:
https://bookendtrust.au/about/
https://discover.utas.edu.au/Clare.Hawkins
https://extinctionmatters.au/
https://naturetrackers.au/
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Live from the Australian Citizen Science Association Conference 2023
Costa and Ian get philosophical and discuss the importance of childhood role models.
Costa explains why it's important for adults to be role models for future generations of Citizen Scientists while Ian demonstrates an uncanny ability to synchronize with the natural world.
More Information:
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz23/
https://www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org/
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Based in Australia, Michelle Neil is a co-convenor of the Australian Citizen Science Association Conference and one of the original international organisers of the Great Southern BioBlitz.
Michelle explains the importance of Citizen Science in the community, offers advice for participating in activities and talks about how she originally got involved with Citizen Science as a parent with young children.
More Information:
https://citizenscience.org.au/citscioz23/
https://www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org/
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Today’s guest has salt water running through his veins. His Grandad was the harbourmaster at Port Kembla, New South Wales.
As a young lad he would tag along with his dad on spearfishing adventures where knowledge was passed down to the next generation.
For his PhD research, Jeremy has been dissecting the predators of urchins to learn more about their eating habits.
The results are not what you might expect.
More Information:
https://www.instagram.com/urchin_ramsey
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Today’s guest developed a love for the ocean from his home town in Port Stephens on the North Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
In 1998 he studied Fisheries Management at the Australian Maritime College and finished with a PhD from the University of Tasmania with a focus on the link between larval fish and the East Australian Current.
Since 2014 he has been on the front line of the dive fisheries in Tasmania working on a plan to manage the spread of sea urchins.
More Information:
https://www.imas.utas.edu.au/news/news-items/urchin-fishery-science-eating-our-way-to-a-healthy-reef
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Tony teaches and inspires new divers to explore the underwater world in search of new species. He is a former student of the legendary Neville Coleman and has been photographing sea animals for over 30 years. In that time he has observed some interesting symbiotic behaviors, explored new dive sites. He is an active citizen scientist and marine protector and an avid contributor to iNaturalist.
More Information:
https://www.greynurse.com.au/
https://www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org/
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/
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David Jenkins is a professional photographer who has been captivated by the beauty and power of aquatic mammals. He works alongside scientists and researchers to document whale migration and has created a detailed online resource to help educate the public about the behavior and evolution of cetaceans.
More Information:
https://whalespotter.com.au
https://www.instagram.com/whale_spotter
https://www.facebook.com/WhaleSpotter
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Fifteen years ago, Russell Hosp began working with Passions of Paradise in Cairns as a dive instructor. In 2019 he became one of the first ever master reef guides.
Russel talks about the Coral Nurture Program and what it takes to propagate coral fragments on the Great Barrier Reef.
More Information:
https://passions.com.au/eco-tourism
https://www.uts.edu.au/partners-and-community/initiatives/uts-sustainability/sustainable-development-goals/life-below-water/coral-nurture-program
https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/learn/master-reef-guides/what-are-master-reef-guides
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When Marco Bordieri came to Australia he had no idea that he would be riding an underwater scooter, GPS mapping dive sites sites, creating novelty assets for scientific research or supporting a community of over twelve thousand SCUBA divers.
If you are diving in Sydney then you should know Viz.
More Information:
https://www.viz.net.au/home
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sydviz
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The Great Southern Bioblitz is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the southern hemisphere in spring. To highlight biodiversity in the springtime but also to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform, iNaturalist.
More Information about the Great Southern Bioblitz 2023
https://www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org
https://www.facebook.com/GSBioblitz
To join this citizen science project using the iNaturalist app visit:
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/
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In this episode we talk to Peter Norris about the growing varroa mite situation, leatherwood honey and other beekeeping questions. Peter has been a beekeeper for over 35 years, starting in the UK when it was struck by varroa in the 90's. He is now based in Tasmania running Heritage Honey as well as being the vice president of the Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association.
More Information:
https://heritagehoney.com.au/
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As a child in Sweden, Malin began collecting rubbish on local beaches. This was the start of a life-long love of caring about the natural world. From tagging Polar Bears on the Arctic ice to fighting Japanese whaling ships in the Antarctic, Malin believes that people will only care about the ocean if they can learn to love the ocean.
More Information:
https://www.facebook.com/wildaware/
https://www.facebook.com/NorthernBeachesCleanUpCrew
https://www.northernbeachescleanupcrew.com/
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Who would have thought that a census for Nudibranchs could be so interesting? Margo Smith talks about the Nelson Bay Sea Slug Census, Ocean Cleanups, Sea Hares and why it’s important to remember that the ocean is downhill from everywhere.
For more information about the Combined Hunter Underwater Group
https://combinedhunterunderwatergroup.weebly.com
https://www.facebook.com/chug.page
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Lawrence Chlebeck is a marine biologist for the Humane Society International Australia. He is campaigning for the removal of shark nets on the Eastern Australian Coastline.
Despite the disappointing news that the NSW Government will return the shark nets again in September 2023 there is a growing support for their removal. These nets indiscriminately kill non targeted species including dolphins, rays and turtles.
To sign the petition to end shark nets in Australian waters visit:
https://sharkchampions.org.au/end-shark-nets-in-nsw
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James Watts is a scientist and researcher at the University of Queensland, as well as the inventor of a bee venom collection device which collects venom without harming bees. We talk to him about research into polypeptides which led to the invention, trends in bee keeping as well as fungus related products all created under his businesses Whale Labs and Laughing Jim.
More Information
www.whalelabs.com.au
www.laughingjim.com.au
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Tony Isaacson is life long Marine Educator and Shark Aware SCUBA instructor.
He has devoted thirty years of his life to researching the Leafy Sea Dragon and the unique biodiversity of South Australia.
More Information:
https://www.facebook.com/DIVECAREDARE
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With all the whale activity on the Central Coast lately we thought it was about time to talk again to Ronny Ling from Marine Wildlfe Rescue Central Coast and introduce Skipper Jones from Terrigal Ocean Tours.
We discuss whales, fishing, weather. science and little bit of politics in an effort to understand what's really happening on the New South Wales coastline.
More Information
Marine Wildlife rescue Central Coast
Terrigal Ocean Tours
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The Lake Macquarie and District Historical Society Inc. was formed on the 13th November 1962 to research the early pioneers of the district. The Society’s principle aim is to record, collect, protect and promote the local history of Lake Macquarie and its surrounds.
More Information
http://www.lmdhsinc.websyte.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lmdhs
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Ian Campbell is an avid historian with a love for all things aquatic!
When he is not out SCUBA diving looking for treasure he’s in the classroom helping kids understand the wonders of the underwater world.
Ian is a passionate scholar of the past and an educator of future generations.
More Information:
https://www.facebook.com/captaincrackers
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Ian James is a passionate SCUBA diver and owner of Dive Swansea at Lake Macquarie, NSW.
Even though Ian has been diving in Australia and overseas for over thirty five years he still likes to call Swansea Bridge home.
More Information
https://www.diveswansea.com.au
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Karen Joynes is lobbying for a change in Australia balloon release laws in Australia. Currently it is illegal to release helium balloons in Victoria but New South Wales has stopped short of an outright ban. The release of helium balloons is a form of littering that kills wildlife. The general public is mostly unaware of this problem.
Email Karen for a school information page:
noballoonrelease@gmail.com
More Information
https://www.facebook.com/noballoonrelease2016
The Doomed Cleveland Balloonfest of '86
https://youtu.be/n0CT8zrw6lw
My Unforgiving Mountain
Multiple Sclerosis is an insidious immune system disease directly affecting 25000 people in Australia. Multiply this by five to take into account family members & carers who are indirectly affected by the disease. Globally, three million people are living with the disease. Unfortunately, this disease disproportionately affects women, striking them down in their prime years.
Petros Ktenas is an Advertsiing Photographer, and more recently a film maker who has devoted his creative efforts to creating a documentary highlighting the impact of the disease in Australia. His documentary, My Unforgiving Mountain, is currently in the Pre Production stages of filming.
In this episode, Petros discusses the impact of Multiple Sclerosis in Australia and how he hopes his documentary will help to bring about a greater awareness and understanding of the disease within the Australian and global community.
For more information:
https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/my-unforgiving-mountain/
https://www.deucefilmproductions.com/
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Twenty million hectares of bush land were lost in recent bush fires on the east coast of Australia. Saverio Russo and the Billion Bees Foundation is dedicated to the long term conservation and restoration of Australian Stingless Bees in Queensland and New South Wales. He has been working with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council who represent thousand years of bee conservation. This is important work as Australia sadly holds the world record for species extinction since colonisation.
For more information
Billion Bees Foundation
https://billionbees.com.au/
Tim Heard is an entomologist studying bees for over thirty five years. He explains the difference between the native Australian stingless bee and the European honeybee.
Tim discusses the history of the varroa mite and how it has migrated from its ancestral host, the Asian honeybee. While the varroa mite may not directly infest native Australian stingless bees, the mites bring an increased risk from viruses to the approximately 1650 species of native bees in Australia. This can affect the balance of pollination for agriculture between feral honey bees, commercial bee hives, and natural Australian bee colonies.
For more information
Sugarbag Bees
https://sugarbag.net/
The Australian Native Bee Association
https://australiannativebee.org.au/
Native Bee Citizen Science Project
https://biological-sciences.uq.edu.au/engagement/native-bee-citizen-science-project
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
To coincide with World Ocean Day 2022, Lia Pereira and her husband Ryan organised a volunteer beach cleanup at Port Stephens, NSW, Australia.
Thirty people in twelve teams collected 230 kg of rubbish from various beaches. With the help of Tangaroa Blue Marine Debris Initiative they categorised 2967 items.
Plastic pollution is getting smaller, more numerous and invasive. The problem is getting worse and unfortunately we are noticing it less.
Lia also talks about the new fish and marine animal rescue facility at Anna Bay.
For more information
Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters
https://sharkencounters.com.au
Tangaroa Blue
https://www.tangaroablue.org
Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets
https://apco.org.au/national-packaging-targets
Dani Lloyd-Prichard is a researcher and educator; an outright enthusiast for all things bee related. Today she talks to Citizen Science about Bee Therapy, propolis and bee recipes (well, honey, not insectile ingredients) and much more.
To hear more from Dani listen to the Bee Therapy podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/bee-therapy/id1568972299
For over thirty years Cathy Gilmore has been rescuing wild animals on the central coast. Cathy founded the Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue Association, Central Coast Branch, which consists of volunteers who are licensed to rescue and rehabilitate Seabirds, Shorebirds, Sea Turtles and Sea Snakes in NSW.
Cathy explains why party balloons don’t go to heaven, why fishing hooks don’t rust out and why wild animals are suffering because of our recreational activities on the coast.
Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue
https://seabirdrescue.org.au/
Responsible fishing to reduce wildlife injuries
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-skills/responsible-fishing-guidelines/wildlife-injuries
BEE Lab is a buzzing hive of bee research and education within The University of Sydney. It has been a thriving science hub for several years now researching the behavior, ecology and evolution of all bees, both native and imported.
We spoke to one of BEE Lab's key researchers Dr Ros Gloag about native sting less bees, as well as honey bees.
For more information about BEE Lab please visit: https://bee-lab.sydney.edu.au/
Checkout Wheen Bee Foundation: https://www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au/
Join The Australian Native Bee Association: https://australiannativebee.org.au
Ronny Ling has devoted his life to citizen science on the central coast of New South Wales, Australia. He monitors the migrating patterns of whales, identifies dolphin species and helps animals in distress. He is an active political spokesperson for the community and speaks out on issues such as the use of shark nets and SMART drumlines. In this episode of Citizen Science Show, Ronny shares some interesting stories about juvenile seals and jet ski whale rescues and he explains why the Central Coast Dolphin Project is not just about dolphins.
If you find an animal in distress on the central coast you can call the Central Coast Dolphin Project on +61 490 401 969.
For more information please visit:
https://ccdolphins.org/
On this episode of Citizen Science Show, Pip Kiernan talks about how Clean Up Australia, a grass roots organization, has been tracking the trend of rubbish for over thirty years and publishing a comprehensive data analysis in the annual rubbish report. The data reveals how plastic continues to grow as the largest waste problem year after year. The annual rubbish report has become an important tool for helping to guide government policies and to keep businesses informed about the impacts of single use plastics on our environment.
Pip explains how you can get involved in cleaning up your local community and why your contribution as a citizen scientist really matters.
For more information about Clean Up Australia please visit:
https://www.cleanup.org.au/
In an ideal world, Dive Against Debris would never exist. Beneath the pristine Manly shoreline, plastic bags, party balloons, baseball caps and t-shirts are among the most common items found littered on the harbour bed. Marine debris washes into the sea from the roads and beaches to create a hazardous environment for the unique and delicate aquatic life at Manly Cove and Shelly Beach.
Richard Nicholls and his SCUBA diving buddies from Dive Centre Manly are dedicated to removing this rubbish while conducting monthly Dive Against Debris surveys. This helps to improve the health of our ocean ecosystems but more needs to be done.
To find out more about how you can get involved please visit:
https://divesydney.com.au/dive-against-debris/
Ryan Periera together with his wife Lia want everything for the sea and have devoted their lives to educating people about sharks and rays. Since 2014 they have operated the Irukandji Centre at Port Stephens in New South Wales, Australia. They have recently moved to a new location 'just down the road'.
In this episode we talk about the new and improved facility at Anna Bay. We hear about how the animals are settling into their new homes and we are reminded about the threats that these creatures face in the oceans today.
If you want to get up close and personal with sharks and rays you can visit the centre.
For more information about the Irukandji Centre please visit:
https://sharkencounters.com.au/