0202411210012
STARDIT ID:
0202411210012State completed
Start 2017-02-08
End 2021-05-16
Form updated 2024-11-21
Inputs
Royal Society of Victoria (link)
Task: Auspicing organisation, provided public liability insurance
Compensation: volunteer
grant from the State Government of Victoria
Public donations
Outputs and impacts
Impact: 10 placements went on to full time employment and requested references
Twelve free events including eight free “Campfires and Science” family friendly events in Victoria (link)
Impact: trained over 150 volunteers in biodiversity surveying techniques. In combination with other grant streams we have co-created novel detection methods and trained over 25 people in the process, including using lab equipment, which is essential to the environmental DNA technique.
trained 3 people to run ‘Campfires and Science’ events
explored, developed and evaluated different ways of detecting species with eDNA that could be completed by citizen scientists.
Impact: novel method developed and successfully tested
The project developed people’s skills and knowledge
Impact: Student placements had skills developed and were supported to enter employment
A number of students and recent graduates involved in the project reported that involvement with ‘Science for All’ directly contributed to them gaining employment. ‘Science for All’ has been asked to provide over 10 professional references for volunteers during this project and a number have now entered full-time employment.
Novel methods of detection of species using eDNA developed for ‘citizen scientists' (link)
Learning: using eDNA in soil samples to detect arboreal species
Novel methods of detection developed for ‘citizen scientists’ – the ability to share knowledge and research – and to bring people with skills and time together both online, face to face both in the forest and the lab has meant that unique and invaluable connections have been made. These have meant that the focus of the research has been developing useful, accessible (affordable and simple!) techniques that can be used by many people around the world for years to come.