Local residents looking to connect with nature and contribute to environmental conservation are invited to attend an introductory citizen science workshop in Bairnsdale later this month.
Hosted by the Bairnsdale and District Field Naturalists Club, the hands-on session will introduce participants to iNaturalist, a free mobile app and global online network designed to help identify local plants, animals and fungi.
Photos and audio recordings uploaded to the platform are added to a global database and shared with scientific repositories, including the Atlas of Living Australia and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, helping researchers track regional biodiversity.
Club members will guide attendees through downloading the app, capturing clear photos or sound recordings of wild flora and fauna, and submitting observations.
The platform features an automated identification tool alongside a community network of naturalists and specialists who review uploads to confirm species or suggest identifications.
The workshop will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday, September 23, in Room 13 at The Hub on Dalmahoy Street, Bairnsdale.
