Citizen Science: 8 Billion Scientists in the Making – Launching Our COP17 Mission in Armenia

October 15, 2026

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 any queries,
Contact Ram Dayal Vaishnav at ram@citizenscience.asia (+918186962916) or
Martin Brocklehurst at martin.brocklehurst@me.com (+447500043485)

Our Campaign Objectives at COP17

Through the “8 Billion Scientists in the Making” campaign, we are driving five core outcomes in Armenia:

Showcase Conservation Outcomes Driven by Citizen Data: Demonstrate concrete, real-world examples where citizen-generated data directly informed and improved conservation decisions.
Highlight Community-Based Models for the Global South: Promote citizen science as an accessible, inclusive, and cost-effective monitoring framework tailored to resource-constrained regions.
Empower Inclusive Environmental Governance: Illustrate how community monitoring gives women, youth, indigenous peoples, and local groups a direct voice in policy-making.
Integrate Citizen Science into NBSAPs & International Frameworks: Provide clear pathways for member states to embed citizen data into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Explore Next Frontiers & Digital Tools: Examine how advancements in AI, smart apps, and mobile platforms can scale up community monitoring worldwide.

A Glimpse of Our COP17 Activities

If you are attending COP17 in Yerevan, come experience community science in action! Here is a snapshot of our key events:

Building Better Support for Biodiversity Citizen Science (Workshop)
- When & Where: October 26 | 14:00 – 15:30 | Green Zone, Workshop Room 1
- Overview: An interactive workshop bringing together policymakers, civil-society leaders, and researchers to refine community support structures like the European Research Infrastructure for Excellent Citizen Science (RIECS).
COP17 Yerevan Biodiversity Challenge (Bioblitz)
- When & Where: October 26 | 17:30 – 19:00 | Green Zone, Workshop Room 2
- Overview: Put science into practice! Grab your smartphone, log into iNaturalist, and join delegates and Yerevan residents in mapping living species across the city.
Next-Gen Citizen Science: Showcasing Inclusive Wins, Empowering the Global South and Charting the Future of Environmental Data
- When & Where: October 27 | 15:00 | Blue Zone, Vayk (Side-Event Room 3)
- Overview: A flagship session led by Citizen Science Global Partnership showcasing how community data is driving conservation work through a panel discussion
Community-Powered Biodiversity Data: A New Engine for Nature Action at the GEF CSO event – From the ground up: Solutions for nature at CBD COP17 Yerevan
- When & Where: October 28 | 15:00 | Blue Zone, GEF Partnership Pavilion
- Overview: Ram will be talking about Citizen Science at this GEF event – “Community-Powered Biodiversity Data: A New Engine for Nature Action”
Other activities/events being conducted by/with our partners
- “CitSci and the GBF” by IUCN CEC at the IUCN Pavilion on October 26th 4:30pm to 5:45pm
- Education Day at COP17 by IUCN CEC & UNESCO at Global Biodiversity Framework Pavilion on October 27th
  - (17:10–18:05) From Communities to Education for Biodiversity: Advancing the Priority Areas

Connect With Us at COP17 – Fill the Form NOW!

Whether you are a government delegate, a researcher, an advocate, or a nature enthusiast, you are part of this 8-billion-strong movement.

Register your interest to attend our events, receive campaign updates, and gain full access to the newly launched CitSci for Biodiversity Toolkit containing a centralized global resource hub packed with essential guides, explainer briefs, framework principles, course materials, and inspiring video talks. This is designed to empower policymakers, researchers, delegates, and grassroots organizers.

Click here to access the CitSci Biodiversity Toolkit (CBD COP17)

👇 Attending COP17 or interested in bringing Citizen Science to your region?

👉 Fill Out the COP17 Citizen Science Interest Form By Clicking Here (or scroll down to fill the embedded form).

Sandesh U

I had a wonderful experience with "The Naturalist School". Their CNS Hybrid Program was extremely well designed, informative, and engaging. There was a lot to learn, but what I enjoyed most was the way the program helped me look at nature and our surroundings from a completely different perspective. The experience made me realise how much there is to observe and understand in the natural world around us—things that are always there, but which many of us simply overlook. In a way, the program opened a door to a world that had always been around me, but that I had never really noticed. The instructors were simply amazing. Their years of experience, deep knowledge, sincerity and genuine passion for nature came through in every session. More importantly, they had a wonderful ability to share their knowledge in a way that made learning interesting and meaningful. I came away from the program with a much greater appreciation and respect for nature and the ecosystems around us. I am truly grateful to The Naturalist School for conducting such a wonderful learning experience. It has certainly changed the way I look at the world around me.

chandrashekhar kr

My journey with The Naturalist School (TNS) has been truly meaningful and transformative. Being part of TNS has given me an opportunity to learn, explore and work closely with nature, while also helping me understand the importance of conservation and responsible tourism. What I appreciate most about TNS is its approach to learning—combining classroom knowledge with field experiences, nature walks, storytelling, interpretation and real-world conservation work. The team is passionate, supportive and always encourages us to keep learning and observing nature with curiosity. My experience with TNS has not only improved my understanding of birds, wildlife, ecosystems and biodiversity, but has also helped me develop confidence in guiding, communicating and connecting people with nature. I am grateful to be part of this journey and proud to contribute to the work of The Naturalist School. TNS is more than a learning platform—it is a community that inspires people to understand, experience and care for nature. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to deepen their connection with nature and contribute meaningfully to conservation. 🌿🐦

Vrinda Baliga

I recently did the Citizen Naturalist course conducted by The Naturalist School. The course was a combination of informative and engaging online lectures and hands-on activity-based learning at the Beforest Collective, Hyderabad. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend the course to anyone who wishes to deepen thier understanding of and engagement with the natural world.

Dipanjan Goswami

I have done by Certified Citizen Naturalist course from The Naturalist School (TNS). It was an awesome experience filled with knowledge & learning. The course divided between online & offline sessions by keeping the busy schedules in mind for working professionals. All the trainers were highly knowledgable & masters in their own field. The offline residential session over the weekend was cherry on the cake. A lot of field works with highly knowledgable trainers gave a lot of opportunities to know about many species which generally we overlook. Overall a highly recommended course for someone who wants to know more about nature & it's jewels.

Praneetha Indukuri

I recently completed the CitiNat Foundation Course, and it was such an interesting and enriching experience. I went into the course knowing very little about birds, insects, plants, and the natural world around me, but every session taught me something new and made me look at nature with so much more curiosity. The sessions were engaging, informative, and explained in a way that made learning genuinely enjoyable. I especially loved how the course encouraged us to observe things we would normally walk past without noticing. I’ve come away with so much more knowledge and a deeper appreciation for the biodiversity around us.

anand ramasamy

I want to build my career in nature, ecology and biodiversity conservation. I've been into flora & fauna documentation since 2023, and I want to take the next step. I am waiting for the right opportunity to be trained by the right people. Glad I did the Citizen Naturalist foundation course from “The Naturalist School”. An important decision in building my Naturalist portfolio.

Nikitha Karumbaiah

Attending The Naturalist School’s hybrid Citizen Naturalist Foundation Course in Hyderabad was an eye-opening experience. The initial online modules were equally engaging and informative, laying a solid foundation for the hands-on residential session at the Beforest Hyderabad Collective. Huge thanks to Suhas and Ashwin for a fantastic experience and for fostering such a warm community of like-minded peers. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to learn, find inspiration, and deepen their relationship with nature!

Salman Syed

Had a lovely learning experience and began to see and interpret nature and all its elements through a completely different lens thanks to The Naturalist School and the lovely team who became like family to me.

Nishad Barde

I had a wonderful learning experience at The Naturalist School. The sessions were engaging, practical, and thoughtfully designed, making it easy to connect classroom concepts with real experiences in nature. The mentors are knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely passionate about wildlife and conservation, which makes learning both inspiring and enjoyable. Whether you're just starting your nature journey or looking to deepen your understanding, I would highly recommend The Naturalist School. It's a fantastic place to learn, observe, and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Shashidhar Bhat

Great team for biodiversity field works and training

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Citizen Science: 8 Billion Scientists in the Making – Launching Our COP17 Mission in Armenia

Our Campaign Objectives at COP17

A Glimpse of Our COP17 Activities

Connect With Us at COP17 – Fill the Form NOW!

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