iNaturalist is a powerful mobile device application that allows citizen scientist’s all over the globe to crowd source a database of life observations. In the video below, I discuss the importance of studying nature and the basics/educational benefits of the iNaturalist.
To assist educators further, I have also created a blog that contains a collection of links and information to assist with an educator’s understanding, use and integration of the app into their work with colleagues/students. This is also linked in the description of the video on youtube to maximize exposure and convenience for sharing.
iNaturalist Update: The application now allows users to make audio recordings with observations! Here is my first one of two Barred Owls conversing with each other:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73884417
Your long experience and comfort with the app certainly makes for a valuable guide. I wasn’t familiar with iNaturalist, but I like your remark that “The app is the astronaut out in space collecting data and the website is mission control where the data can go through deeper analyses by you and your peers.” You’ve nicely outlined some of the great benefits of sharing knowledge about local biodiversity.
Two other things that I find really interesting about the application outside of its actual purpose, are that it uses open source software that you can download from GitHub (https://github.com/inaturalist/inaturalist) and get started on your own prototype if the skills and inclination are there, and it’s one of Microsoft’s AI for Earth Partners (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/ai-for-earth-partners) using AI to accelerate the identification of species.
Great information to share Ben! I value this type of software as other identification apps like eBird require you to fill out a questionnaire style guide to find identifications (much like using a dichotomous key) that is not quite as user friendly. There are also other identification apps out there but they are usually to restricted to particular type of organism like plants.
I would also recommend checking out Rockd in the app/play store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rockd/id1153056624). This app is similar to iNaturalist but is focused on finding and identifying geological features.
Hi Neill,
Thank you for this great introduction to iNaturalist! I had visited this site as I was researching citizen science for my A1, and had been surprised at the less-than-accessible landing page of their website for mobile devices. The Join page was much more mobile-friendly. When looking for this app through my Android’s Play Store, access was very smooth.
I had not visited all of the functionalities in as great deal as you had provided, and I work definitely promote this as a great resource for developing a budding enthusiasm for nature.
This is a great addition to the Knowledge Mill!
Hi Evelyne,
Thank you for your comments!
Originally my video was over 26 minutes long and one of the parts that had to be cut out was about the website ( I agree that it isn’t really designed for mobile use). The application is great for making and tracking your own observations using a mobile device, but on a computer or laptop, the website takes you deep into the community where you can do a lot more to extend the learning.
I use both the app and site on a regular basis. The app is the astronaut out in space collecting data and the website is mission control where the data can go through deeper analyses by you and your peers.
Please let me know if you have any further questions or might want to hear more about any particular feature.