Citizen scientists are being encouraged to join Flinders University ecology experts in surveying the diversity of life for the Great Southern BioBlitz.

PhD student Seamus Doherty, part of the Global Ecology Laboratory within Flinders’ College of Science and Engineering, is part of a volunteer team organising this international event that runs from September 25 to 28.

The Greater Adelaide region joins the event for the first time this year, which is encouraging citizen scientists to survey the diversity of life found throughout the southern hemisphere during Spring.

So far, 132 regions from 12 countries have registered to be part of the Great Southern BioBlitz, including Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Kenya, Botswana, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.

Seamus is pleased that public involvement in the event will highlight appreciation of great biodiversity that can be found close to home.

“During the current pandemic, it’s worth activating and engaging people with nature – whether that be on our university’s Bedford Park campus, at a local park, or even in someone’s own backyard,” says Seamus.

He is pleased that Adelaide is engaging with the Great Southern BioBlitz, following its successfully coordination of Australia’s first-ever involvement in the global City Nature Challenge earlier this year.

More details about the Great Southern BioBlitz and how to participate can be found online at https://greatsouthernbiobl.wixsite.com/website.

A public event to launch the event for Greater Adelaide region is being held at the Arab Steed Hotel in Hutt St, Adelaide, from 4pm to 6pm on Thursday. Tickets for this COVID-safe collaborative event, made with the Australian Citizen Science Association-SA, can be downloaded from the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/acsasa-catch-up-tickets-121180172157.