Citizen Science

Citizen science in Victoria

Citizen science involves community volunteers, in partnership with scientists, participating in science for the community's benefit.

Citizen science is one of several ways in which citizens can connect with nature and voluntarily help to protect nature. It offers the opportunity for people to become involved in, and contribute to, meaningful scientific projects. There are substantial benefits for citizens, for communities, for governments, and for the environment, through effective citizen science.

Victoria has an established and growing citizen science sector which has been delivering essential data for biodiversity conservation for many years. Citizen science plays a crucial role in filling data gaps on private land and providing long term monitoring of sites and species. Citizen science observations contribute to important decisions about Victoria’s environment.