Citizen Science Show

Izabela Sajdok straddles the delicate line between perceived public safety and the harm that a Government policy inadvertently inflicts on our Marine Wildlife.Her passionate call to remove archaic, ineffective, shark nets is a clarion call echoed by many. More Informationhttps://www.friendsofkurrawyba.com/https://www.instagram.com/eyeinthewater/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557593740945https://theconversation.com/the-untold-story-of-shark-nets-in-australia-3748https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-30/shark-nets-out-nsw-beaches-permanent-removal-marine-animals/103779608https://hsi.org.au/marine-wildlife/sharks/https://www.robstewartsharkwaterfoundation.org/articles/caught-documentaryhttps://www.instagram.com/sharkdefencecampaign/

Emeritus Professor Rob Harcourt leads the Marine Predator Research Group at Macquarie University and Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System Animal Tracking Facility.He is active in marine conservation, behavioural ecology of marine predators, and marine observations.Rob uses technology to 'open a window' into the world of large marine predators and was part of the first team to successfully deploy satellite transmitters on seals, penguins, whales and sharks.More Informationhttps://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/robert-harcourthttps://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-harcourt-118857https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/projects/a-national-animal-tracking-network-to-monitor-movements-of-austra

Andy Howe is helping to save a species of Australia fauna that has only 400 individuals left. This is achieved by putting aside small sanctuaries that are protected from outside interference. Data is collected within the sanctuary using various technologies, from masking tape to ground level radar systems.Andy Howe works with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy or AWC on projects across Australia to protect these unique species.More Informationhttps://www.australianwildlife.org/https://www.australianwildlife.org/animals/northern-hairy-nosed-wombathttps://www.australianwildlife.org/news-and-resources/press-release/historic-agreement-to-protect-critically-endangered-northern-hairyhttps://www.australianwildlife.org/news-and-resources/news/meet-the-people-of-awc-senior-field-ecologist-andy-howehttps://www.australianwildlife.org/news-and-resources/press-release/advanced-radar-tech-deployed-in-pursuit-to-protect-northern-hairyhttps://www.australianwildlife.org/news-and-resources/press-release/stumbling-across-rare-footage-of-a-young-critically-endangeredhttps://www.australianwildlife.org/news-and-resources/press-release/scat-and-sticky-tape-helping-save-the-critically-endangered

Dr Liam Lysaght is the CEO of the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Ireland, and chair of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. His organisation plays a key role in mobilising citizen science data and projects with a focus on non protected habitats and species. More Information https://biodiversityireland.ie/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-lysaght-22875324/https://www.gbif.org/https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/butterfly-monitoring-scheme/https://pollinators.ie/https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/

Lynette Plenderleith is the chair of the inaugural New South Wales chapter of the Australian Citizen Science Association. She is a conservation biologist and biodiversity education specialist with expertise in communication and community engagement. Since this episode was recorded, the decision was made not to try and compete with the Australian federal election and the ACSA-NSW launch will now be held on the 21st of June 2025.Find out more by signing up for the ACSA newsletter at www.citizenscience.org.au/join-the-newsletterMore Informationhttps://citizenscience.org.au/acsa-regional-chapters/acsa-nsw/https://citizenscience.org.au/https://www.frogid.net.au/https://www.frogsvic.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynette-plenderleith-6144b173/

Fred Nunn is a hero of the oceans. Working with a team of volunteers these ocean heroes engage in technically challenging dives in the waters surrounding the UK to save wildlife and remove lost fishing gear.The removal of these dangerous marine debris - that litter the ocean - help to keep marine wildlife safe from unnecessary harm.More Information https://www.ghostfishing.co.uk/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNh89l0CpwAhttps://www.positive.news/society/meet-the-ghost-hunters-the-volunteer-divers-cleaning-up-uk-seas/https://www.instagram.com/ghostfishinguk/https://www.facebook.com/GhostFishingUKOfficial/https://www.youtube.com/@ghostfishinguk5770/videoshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWQ2SKGc264

Anna Noon is a passionate and dedicated advocate for social, environmental, and climate justice.She is renowned for supporting vulnerable community members and leading impactful projects that boost the resilience and regenerative capacity of the Lake Macquarie community.Anna is a founder of the sustainability not-for-profit The Groundswell Collective and recognised in 2024 as the Lake Macquarie Volunteer of the Year, NSW Women of the Year – Community Hero finalist, and the Taronga Hatch Accelerator Program winner.She demonstrates her commitment to sustainability through leading inspiring, hands-on initiatives such as building tiny forests.More Information https://thegroundswell.org.au/https://earthwatch.org.uk/https://restor.eco/?lat=26&lng=14.23&zoom=3

Kane Christensen is a spider enthusiast and former head of spiders at the Australian Reptile Park.While working at the park he discovered a new species of funnel web spider in the Newcastle area of New South Wales, Australia. In recognition of this discovery and his significant work on spiders, the Australian Museum recommended that the Newcastle Funnel Web spider be named after him.More Informationhttps://australian.museum/learn/animals/spiders/newcastle-funnel-web-spider-atrax-christenseni/https://australian.museum/learn/animals/spiders/funnel-web-spiders-group/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/14/dream-come-true-for-australian-funnel-web-spider-enthusiast-after-he-discovers-a-new-specieshttps://www.reptilepark.com.au/about/venom-program/spider-venom-program

Dr Tim is a staunch defender of Koalas and advocate for the Greater Koala National Park.He describes himself as a pracademic (a practical academic) and is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Griffith University.Dr Tim specialises in the governance of sustainable development, environmental politics and policy, climate change, natural resource management including forestry, responsible investment, and institutional performance.More Informationhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2EzzTU8wJCxBUnWvUBGW_Ahttps://greaterkoalapark.org/https://timcadman.wordpress.com/https://theconversation.com/a-home-among-the-gum-trees-will-the-great-koala-national-park-actually-save-koalas-217276https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-cadman-5896https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379163060_Koalas_Climate_Conservation_and_the_Community_A_Case_Study_of_the_Proposed_Great_Koala_National_Park_New_South_Wales_Australia