The state government has established a $2 million Citizen Science Fund to harness the power of South Australians with an enthusiasm for science and nature.

The program empowers citizen scientists to collaborate on critical conservation projects, working out in their local environment or online from their own home.

Citizen science involves public participation and collaboration in scientific research with the aim of increasing scientific knowledge.

The program will offer two grants streams, a small grants program up to $15,000 per project, and a large grants program awarded through a targeted expressions of interest process.

Launched as part of the international Citizen Science Month, Department for Environment and Water (DEW) will administer the Environmental Citizen Science Grants program.

Eligible projects may address research questions or gather data about living things and the natural environment including plants, animals, fungi, species, ecosystems, ecological communities, soil, water, and air.

Dr Tahlia Perry is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Adelaide ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity & Heritage.

“During my PhD I developed the national citizen science project EchidnaCSI, which has engaged more than 15,000 people across Australia to provide the best sighting data for echidnas and new information on their diet and health, especially for the locally endangered Kangaroo Island echidna.

“Citizen scientists of all ages and educational backgrounds participated in EchidnaCSI by taking photos of echidnas through a dedicated phone app and even collected echidna scats (faeces) for us to use molecular tools to learn more about the wild and elusive echidna populations for conservation outcomes.

“Citizen science not only allows researchers to engage the public in the scientific process, but it enables research to happen at a larger and faster scale than what is possible with more traditional methods.”

Environment Minister Susan Close says citizen science is for people of all ages, promoting curiosity and hands-on experience for science, while building community through a mutually shared interest of environmental conservation.

“The new grants program will enable us to support and encourage current and emerging citizen scientists and projects, while generating valuable information about our environment.

“Ensuring the survival of South Australia’s threatened species is a key priority for the State Government and these grants will support new and exciting projects which will super-charge conservation efforts allowing more people to be actively involved.

“The rapid decline of native species is of great concern, and we must act to slow and stop the disappearance of South Australia’s unique plants and animals for the benefit of future generations.

The large grants program, which will open later this year, allows for more targeted, co-designed and longer-term citizen science projects to be funded, with research focused on key environmental questions which could inform conservation activities or policy decisions.

Applications for the small grants are now open and will close on 11 May. Find out more on the DEW website.