Participatory biological recording in the UK is a triumph of public contribution to our collective knowledge of the natural world. Devoted volunteers and enthusiasts generate vast databanks supporting environmental policy, research and practice with baseline data for thousands of native and non-native UK species.
As threats to UK wildlife mount, the need to grow the evidence base for effective conservation becomes increasingly vital. We need effective communications tools to be able to share this amazing energy and support an accessible, well informed citizen science culture. What key stories should we be telling to empower local communities in spaces on their doorsteps, and develop the practical skills among the existing and emerging army of volunteers, advocates and citizen scientists that will provide the evidence base and help shape the discussion going forward?
12. Questions
• How do we increase the profile of the NBN outside of our
current users?
• How do we bring the data to life?
• Stories about recorders?
• Stories about data use?
• How do we increase the confidence in citizen science data?
Editor's Notes
NBN Trust
NBN network
Standards & protocols
NBN Atlas – digital data sharing infrastructure (launched 2017)
Green Nettle Weevil
These are our big numbers
Search by species
Home page search
List of species
Species page
Pictures
Info
Lists
Tabs
Interactive map
Points
filters
Search by location
Explore by address
Change radius to 1km
Postcode of venue
Change to map
All species in area
Mammals
Hedgehogs
Click on dot
More info
Can do more in spatial layer
e.g. add different pre loaded layers
I’ve pre selected the Mendip Hills
Going for a walk, want to know which species I may see
Particularly interested in a woodpecker
Remove tick can just show those
Can produce species lists and area report, both of which can be downloaded
Dr. Manuel Caballer Gutierrez from the Natural History Museum in France contacted our technical and data support officer
Had seen an image on the NBN Atlas labelled as Hermaea bifida (the photo on the left)
He thought it was Hermaea cantabra (middle photo) – thought to be endemic to the Bay of Biscay specifically Santander in Spain and never been identified in the UK
David Fenwick, provided a higher resolution image, from which Dr Caballer could confirm that it was in fact Hermaea cantrabra and as a result of this, it was added to the UK Species Inventory
A couple of months later another new Hermaea species, Hermaea paucicirra (right photo) was identified from David Fenwick’s photos – again confirmed by Dr Caballer
Dots on a map only take you so far when trying to engage people
How do we take those dots and make them something that will engage new audiences with nature?