We are really happy to present to you: the very first CITIZEN SCIENCE ADVENTURE! The idea has been lingering in our heads for quite some time now and we were finally able to get this new and exciting project started. The kick-off was made by our beloved Philipp Jonathan with a quick introduction to phenology and a common snowdrop he spotted in the Nature's Calendar app in a viennese parc this weekend.
Why we chose the common snowdrop as an example? That's easy to explain! Since the common snowdrop is native in most of Europe(meaning it can be spotted in a wide area and thereby allows regional comparisons) and a typical early spring plant which already disappears in the early summer months, it works great as an indicator for the climate surrounding it. After spotting something like a common snowdrop in the Nature's Calendar app running on SPOTTERON, the data is transfered to the Austrian Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics(ZAMG) and also submitted to the European phenological database. They can then draw important conclusions on climate development by comparing the collected data over the years.
See how easy it can be to contribute to science even during a quick walk in the park? By observing the nature surrounding us in our everyday lives (even in the midst of a big city like Vienna), we can help science and also become more aware of what is happening in our environment.
For more information about Nature's Calendar just download the app for iOS or Android or visit www.naturkalender.at!
Check out the video here:
(true to the principle of we do not track users, this video has been embedded with the enhanced privacy mode)