Citizen Science: 8 Billion Scientists in the Making – Launching Our COP17 Mission in Armenia
What if every human on Earth could play a direct role in protecting nature? The global citizen science community - led by Citizen Science Global Partnership - is announcing the launch of a campaign: "Citizen Science: 8 Billion Scientists in the Making" during the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia this October! For the very first time at a CBD COP, the global citizen science practitioners are coming together to prove that community-powered observation isn't just a passion—it is a vital force for planetary conservation. Click here to access the CitSci Biodiversity Toolkit (CBD COP17) Click here to Download iNaturalist & take the Yerevan Biodiversity Challenge For...
Citizen Science delivers Big Wins for Biodiversity with more on the Horizon
Author: Prof. Austin Mast, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, amast@fsu.edu From Darwin’s Letters to Digital Biodiversity Networks Charles Darwin (1809–1882) corresponded with over 2,000 individuals in service to his groundbreaking work. Today, we continue to combine information-sharing networks with scientific methodologies in revolutionary ways, now at lightning speeds. Our networks might involve new technologies, like remote sensing, but often people on-the-ground remain central to success. Some of those people bring advanced training, while others deliver complementary value—local knowledge, fresh perspectives, advocacy, weight as political constituents, and more. These enriched networks operate as “citizen science” or “community-based monitoring” (here referenced collectively as the former). For...
Five New TNS Team Members Join IUCN Commissions for 2026–2029
We're proud to share that five new members of The Naturalist School (TNS) team have been accepted as members of IUCN Commissions for the 2026–2029 quadrennial period that reflects the depth of expertise across our team. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) runs six global Commissions of volunteer experts who advise on conservation policy and practice. And out of that, half of them are represented among our team's memberships. [mkd_separator class_name="" type="normal" position="center" color="" border_style="" width="" thickness="" top_margin="" bottom_margin=""] What are the 3 IUCN Commissions which TNS team is part of? The Commission on Education and Communication (CEC): IUCN's oldest Commission which brings together practitioners...
TNS partners with NBA & NCF to spread citizen science through the Campus Biodiversity Register
Today marks a monumental leap forward for citizen science and youth-led conservation in India! On August 22, hundreds of educators, researchers, students, and conservation enthusiasts gathered online via Zoom for the official national launch of the Campus Biodiversity Register (CBR) initiative. The Naturalist School is a knowledge partners in this initiative which is jointly spearheaded by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF). The CBR initiative is set to turn educational campuses across India into vibrant, living laboratories for nature exploration, ecological documentation, and youth leadership. 🚀 Highlights from Today’s Official Launch Ceremony The virtual launch event was filled with energy, vision, and a...
The Six-Legged Tigers in Your Backyard: Why the World’s Fastest Insects Are Rewriting the Rules of Conservation
Did you know? Out of the approximately 2,900 recognized tiger beetle species worldwide, the vast majority were originally discovered and described by historical amateurs or the contemporary community of self-taught enthusiasts, affectionately known as "cicindelophiles"....
The Power of the People: How Citizen Science Took Center Stage at UNEA-7
As the world gathered in Nairobi for the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), a powerful new force was felt in the halls of global governance. Representing The Naturalist School (TNS) and as part of a 33-strong delegation from the Citizen Science Global Partnership (CSGP), we arrived with a singular mission: to ensure that the data and lived experiences of ordinary citizens are no longer sidelined in environmental policy. TNS at the Heart of the Action The Naturalist School didn’t just observe the proceedings; we were instrumental in shaping the technical and community-driven outputs of the assembly. On the Ground: Our community was represented...
The UN’s Highest Body is Meeting: How We’re Planning to Champion the Citizen Science Charter
Article written by Ram Dayal Vaishnav, (Head - Citizen Science at The Naturalist School) originally at LinkedIn. The world is currently grappling with a triad of existential threats: the climate crisis, the rapid loss of nature and biodiversity and pervasive pollution and waste. The responsibility for forging a coordinated global response rests on the shoulders of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. From December 8 to 12, 2025, I will be in Nairobi, Kenya, for UNEA-7, under the theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet.” I am attending not just as an observer, but as a delegate...
Celebrating Big Butterfly Month 2025 with The Naturalist School
September is here, and that means it's time for the Big Butterfly Month (BBM)! The Naturalist School is thrilled to participate in this nationwide citizen science initiative dedicated to raising awareness about butterfly conservation and documenting their diversity. Throughout the month, nature enthusiasts across India come together to observe and record butterflies, and we've organized some exciting events to help you get involved. Butterfly Walks in Nagpur The Naturalist School is hosting nature walks in Nagpur, guided by Certified Nature Guide Nayanika Bhatia. Join us to explore local trails and spot different species. September 21: Ambazari Biodiversity Park, Ring Road, Hingna, NagpurThese walks all begin at 7:30 AM. September...
The World of Mantises: An Encore – Online Session
The amazing response to our "World of Mantises" exhibition has been truly overwhelming. We're incredibly grateful to every photographer and nature lover who contributed their stunning work in response to our call to submit photographs. Your passion for these incredible insects helped us create a powerful visual story, showcasing the beauty and complexity of mantises. To continue the momentum and dive deeper into their fascinating lives, we're excited to invite you to a special online session. Unveiling the Diversity of Indian Mantodea - Zoom session Join us for a virtual journey into the world of mantises. This online session is your chance to explore their behavior, diversity,...
A Charter For Citizen Science And Multilateral Environment Agreements.
Citizen science has long been an integral part of environmental stewardship across Asia and India, where communities, researchers and nature enthusiasts work together to monitor biodiversity, track air and water quality and respond to local environmental issues. However, despite its immense potential, citizen science remains largely underutilized in shaping formal environmental policy and international agreements in the region. A new Charter for Citizen Science and Multilateral Environmental Agreements, spearheaded by the Citizen Science Global Partnership (CSGP), offers a framework to change this narrative. It calls on governments, including those in Asia and India, to formally recognize citizen science as a vital contributor to environmental monitoring...
