Always wanted to be a scientist? It’s never been easier
- Adam Spencer
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
Citizen science lets regular folks contribute to real research - from saving the Great Barrier Reef to helping snails get sexy
All hands on deck
This week I'm lucky to be hosting the Eurekas, Australia's most prestigious science awards. So in the same week as we acknowledge our best professional scientists, I thought I'd remind you that ANYONE can contribute to Aussie science, with little more than a smartphone and a spare hour.
I'm talking about citizen science. Where regular people like you and me help gather the data that drives real research. A crucial worldwide movement, helping scientists study everything from distant galaxies to local frog populations by turbocharging the numbers of eyes focussing on the prize.
Ned's unlucky, loveless snail tale
I thought about this as a NerdNews topic when reading about Ned the snail, who just this week has become New Zealand's most famous gastropod bachelor.
Ned's shell spirals left while almost all other garden snails spiral right. This one in 40,000 genetic condition means his reproductive organs don't line up with most others ... bummer Ned!
Found by Giselle Clarkson while gardening in Wairarapa, Ned was named after Homer Simpson's left-handed neighbour and is now living in a fishtank waiting for love.
Clarkson and New Zealand Geographic have launched a nationwide citizen science campaign encouraging curious Kiwis to help find Ned a compatible mate.
Research the reef, from your room
Meanwhile, Australia's Great Reef Census is a world-first citizen science effort.
Since 2020, the project has surveyed nearly a quarter of this national natural treasure with divers, sailors and everyday tourists taking photos that are uploaded to https://citizensgbr.org/
Anyone around the world can then hop online and help analyse these photos. Over 10,000 citizen scientists from virtually every continent have added their eyes to watching the reef.
This AI-enhanced analysis helps the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority monitor bleaching and invasive nasties.
If you're reading this, crown-of-thorns-starfish, you suck!
One more for the toad
Then there's FrogID, the Australian Museum's national citizen science project helping us learn more about what's happening to Australia's frogs, by recording their ribbits, croaks and burps on a free app.
With one in five frog species in Australia at risk of extinction, understanding where particular frogs live is crucial.
The FrogID dataset now exceeds 1.2 million records in just seven years, with more than 30,000 people currently registered. This exceeds all data ever collected on Australian frogs before the project began.
If you regularly hear nighttime gurgling of the Kermit variety, download the FrogID app now and join the movement.
The citizen science universe
Want more? The Australian Citizen Science Association's Project Finder lists hundreds of active projects across the country, from tracking marine species through Redmap to monitoring urban wildlife.
CSIRO alone runs projects ranging from measuring water quality with your phone camera to tracking bushfire smoke.
Whether you're hunting for rare snails, analysing coral photos, or recording frog calls, citizen science proves everyone can contribute to human knowledge.
Yours in collective curiosity,
Adam S
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