The Natural History Consortium is organising a brand-new Citizen Science Showcase to take place from Saturday 22nd February – Saturday 1st March 2025. This week-long showcase will be a celebration of the Citizen Science work taking across “Wessex”. Wessex, for the purposes of this project, includes Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and the old county of “Avon” (Bristol & Bath area).
The Natural History Consortium is currently looking for organisations who are working in the field of environmental-based citizen science (e.g. population ecology and conservation, pollution-monitoring, monitoring water quality) who want to promote their citizen science to new audiences, either online or in person during the showcase week.
Those who take part will be eligible for free 1:1 PR training, provided by a Wessex-based PR consultant, and there are also a range of micro-grants available to support participating projects. There are many ways you can get involved, including:
- Delivering an in-person event, such as a training session for your citizen science project in a new local area
- Delivering an online session, such as sharing your project to new audiences during an online information and Q&A session
- Engagement with local media, such as writing an article for a local newspaper/magazine, or talking about your project on a local radio station
- Create new online content e.g. creating a reel/video/blog for launching during the showcase
Aims
The aims for this Showcase are to support organisations with greater positive coverage of local projects, help to diversify audiences and build a case for further funding to citizen science in the region. It is part of the Wessex Citizen Science Local Pilot, coordinated by Natural History Consortium, funded by Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme.
How to register
For more information and to register your interest in taking part in the Citizen Science Showcase, please click here to register before 30 September 2024.