Chubb encourages Australia's citizen scientists

Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, has launched the paper ‘Building Australia through Citizen Science’, highlighting the important role of people in the community collecting data to help solve real-world problems.

The paper reveals that more than 130,000 Australians, of all ages, are active in over 90 scientific projects. Professor Chubb stated, “Citizen scientists in Australia have already helped to find distant galaxies, discovered new species and assisted with insights to fight diseases like HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer’s.

“People with curiosity and a passion for science are making a difference — often helped by the smartphone in their pocket.”

The launch of the paper coincided with the opening of the inaugural Australian Citizen Science Conference, held from 23–24 July in Canberra. In his opening address to the conference, Professor Chubb noted that science not only benefits the community — it also teaches and enhances many important skills and attributes.

And while Professor Chubb acknowledges that “we don’t all have to be scientists”, he claims that we “ought to know at least enough about science to grasp how it works, and think about what we want it to achieve”.

“It is awesome, as well as awesomely important,” he said.

Anyone interested in learning more about science in the community can visit the websites of National Science Week (this year to be held from 15–23 August) or the Australian Citizen Science Association.