Virtual Science Cafe: Personal BioBlitz: Discovering Everyday Biodiversity

We are surrounded by species we don’t fully notice or know. Every year, Dr. Lena Struwe, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, runs the Personal BioBlitz project, which teaches everyone how to use the web tools and apps called SEEK and iNaturalist to explore what exists around you. The 10th Personal Bioblitz, which starts March 1st and will run for 2 ½ months, attracts people from around the globe, who report the species they see in their everyday lives – in class, at work, at home, and on vacation. The goals of the project are to learn more about the world around us, together identify as many species as possible, and the observations we submit are used by scientists to track and monitor worldwide biodiversity.

Dr. Struwe will explain why biodiversity is important, how to participate in the project, and what you can learn and find right where you are, right now, and in the future.