Citizen Science – Discover, Record, Protect
What is Citizen Science?
Anyone can contribute to science and help make a difference for our natural world!
Citizen science is the involvement of everyday people in scientific research, working alongside scientists to collect information, make discoveries and contribute to our understanding of the world around us.
From recording wildlife sightings and monitoring water quality to tracking environmental changes, citizen scientists contribute valuable observations and information that help researchers better understand our natural environment.
One of the greatest strengths of citizen science is the collective power of community participation. With people observing and recording nature across different places and over time, we can gather information on a scale that scientists working alone could never achieve.
But citizen science is about more than collecting data.
It encourages us to explore, observe and connect with nature, building greater awareness and understanding of the species and ecosystems around us. It also empowers individuals and communities to become active participants in protecting and conserving our natural world.
You don’t need to be a scientist to contribute to science. Just be curious, observant and willing to get involved!
How does citizen science help protect our oceans?
Our oceans are vast, dynamic and incredibly diverse. Understanding the species and habitats they support, the pressures they face and how they are changing is essential for effective conservation.
Yet there are still significant gaps in our knowledge of marine and coastal biodiversity.
Citizen scientists can help fill these gaps by recording wildlife, monitoring habitats, documenting environmental changes and reporting conservation concerns.
Every observation adds another piece to the puzzle. Together, these contributions can help:
- Build biodiversity knowledge – Document species, their distributions and the habitats they occupy.
- Detect environmental changes – Monitor changes in wildlife populations, species distributions and environmental conditions over time.
- Identify threats – Help identify pollution, injured or entangled wildlife, invasive species and other emerging conservation concerns.
- Inform conservation decisions – Contribute evidence that can support scientific research, environmental management and policy.
- Support marine protection – Improve our understanding of biodiversity and ecological values within and beyond marine protected areas.
- Strengthen community stewardship – Connect people with nature and inspire greater awareness, responsibility and collective action.
- Build a lasting legacy – Contribute to long-term datasets that can help inform conservation for future generations.
Everyday adventures can become opportunities for science!
Whether you’re snorkelling, diving, kayaking, exploring rockpools, walking along the beach or simply enjoying the outdoors, you can contribute valuable observations about the wildlife and habitats around you.
And the more people who get involved, the bigger our collective picture becomes.
Small observations. Big discoveries. Real conservation impact.
Get Involved in Our Citizen Science Programs
Your observations can make a difference!
At Dolphin Research Australia | Ocean Education & Conservation, citizen science is central to how we connect communities with marine research and conservation.
Through our citizen science programs, we empower people to become active contributors to scientific research, helping us build knowledge of our marine wildlife, monitor biodiversity and better understand the health of our coastal and marine ecosystems.
Whether you’re observing dolphins along the coast or discovering biodiversity in our rockpools, reefs and waterways, there are many ways to get involved.
East Coast Dolphin Watch Citizen Science Program
Help us monitor and protect our dolphins and whales!
Byron–Tweed Hope Spot Biodiversity Project
Help discover, record and protect the biodiversity of our Hope Spot!
Take An Ocean Champion Pledge & Get Involved with A Citizen Science Project
Join the global movement to create positive change by taking a simple everyday action. Take a pledge and share with your friends and community on social media. Choose an action and pledge to make a change. Simply write on a piece of paper or digitally and take a photograph and share on your social media. Don’t forget to tag us @ocean_education_conservation and @dolphin_research_australia !