For many of us, the term, “science” can be intimidating and even a little mysterious. It may elicit images of people in lab coats locked away in buildings, discussing topics unintelligible to everyone else. EDI aims to dispel these myths and demystify the scientific process, by making science accessible to all.
Often, professional scientists need the help of community scientists to deepen our understanding of large-scale problems for which large datasets are necessary. In other words, scientists need you to help them collect data!
Scientists especially need help collecting monitoring data, and one of the simplest ways you can help is by recording your observations in nature using the free phone app, iNaturalist.
This international effort depends on community scientists to find and document the presence of plant and animal species across the globe using iNaturalist. During this annual event, EDI trains teams of community scientists in San Diego County to collect crucial data about the state of our own unique biodiversity. All observations go into a global database that research scientists use to understand the change in composition, abundance, and habitat use of species over time, as well as make informed decisions about how to protect and preserve San Diego’s flora and fauna.
Using iNaturalist
Using Seek
