CEP Calgary x February: Citizen Science

About the Event:

Despite being a relatively new research approach, citizen science is rapidly gaining popularity among millions of volunteers around the world. These 'citizen scientists' devote their spare time to helping professional researchers to collect and document information from all around us. From observations of the night sky to behaviours of animals, this information helps us to better understand our world and the Universe.

Nowadays, regular citizens can help tackle pressing environmental problems such as climate change, air pollution, ocean plastic, loss of biodiversity etc. by identifying, mapping and reporting major issues with often only their smartphones.

Join CEP Calgary for our monthly speaker series in February to learn how anyone, regardless of their background knowledge, can contribute to real academic research. And, who knows, maybe one day you could become a part of the next mind-blowing, life-altering scientific discovery! 

This panel discussion brings professionals from various citizen science projects around Calgary, to share their experiences and help you learn more about citizen science in your community.

Speakers:

Nicole Kahal: Conservation Analyst - Miistakis Institute

Nicole is a Conservation Analyst for the Miistakis Institute, a not-for-profit applied environmental research organization. She works on a variety of projects that focus on urban conservation, citizen science, and facilitating informed municipal decisions that benefit people and the environment. Nicole currently manages the collaborative Calgary Captured wildlife monitoring program, which utilizes camera traps and citizen science to better understand urban wildlife in YYC. She also coordinated the Call of the Wetland program, which challenged Calgarians to monitor urban wetlands for amphibians as an indicator of wetland health over the past three years. Nicole holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Water Resource Economics from the University of Arizona. 

Will Farrell: Senior Software Developer - Datastream

Will joined The Gordon Foundation in 2019 as a Senior Software Developer for DataStream. In this role, he focuses on making the DataStream software the best it can be to ensure open access to water data. He has a long history of contributing to open source projects that date back to the early years of the web and continues to do so to this day. 

Jordan Bell: Citizen Science Coordinator - Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Insititute (AMBI)

Jordan Bell is responsible for leading crowd-sourced data collection and overseeing the development of the ABMI’s citizen science application, NatureLynx. In addition, Jordan assists the ABMI’s land access program to secure access to key monitoring locations throughout Alberta for their provincial monitoring program. Jordan also participates in a variety of outreach and knowledge translation activities on behalf of the ABMI. 

About The Miistakis Institute: The Miistakis Institute specializes in evaluating complex environmental problems and using our equally diverse skill sets and tools to resolve them.

About Datastream: DataStream is an open access hub for sharing water data. Our mission is to promote knowledge sharing and advance collaborative water stewardship. 

About ABMI: "We're the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI). We track changes in Alberta's wildlife and their habitats from border to border, and provide ongoing, relevant, scientifically credible information on Alberta's living resources. For our province's land use decision-makers. For Alberta's future land stewards. For Albertans."