Be the Scientist: Citizen Science in Action

Mallards are a familiar and welcome sight in much of the country, but how much do we actually know about this species? DucklingWatch is a citizen science project tackling the lack of data on mallard productivity with the help of many participants across the country. Come along to hear postgraduate researcher Hannah Coburn discuss her research on mallard population ecology and how you can contribute to the conservation of mallards by simply counting ducklings.

A 2023 survey by Essex County Council found river pollution to be the top environmental concern among Essex residents. This talk introduces RiverWatch, a citizen science project by Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust that empowers communities to monitor their local waterways. It explores how volunteers collect data, what the results reveal about river health, and how this information can be used by larger organisations. The session highlights the role of citizen science in raising awareness, identifying areas in need, and safeguarding rivers for the future.

The Essex Bioblitz is a 10-year citizen science project aiming to understand how recent climate change is altering the flowering times of wild flowers in Essex. As we approach the halfway mark of this project, there is much to celebrate - more than 2,500 people have collectively contributed more than 100,000 records of plants flowering in our county; a remarkable achievement by the naturalists of Essex! Join us for an update on the project so far, including how these observations have 'redrawn the maps' for many rare species found in Essex, and find out how you can take part.