Although there are few examples of formally established community based Citizen Science projects in the UK, there are plenty of community groups getting involved in Citizen Science through:
- participation in a national survey
- involvement with local records centres
- participating in monitoring projects set up by local rangers, biodiversity officers or reserve managers
- training and participation with local wildlife NGOs
The following sections provide detail of surveys that are particularly suitable for community groups to participate in. There are many organisations that can support, train and inform the public to become Citizen Scientists.
All these organisations are always looking for new volunteers to join in with their surveying and other practical work required. They value the input of ideas and energy new volunteers can bring to their organisation and many stay long term to become a vital and integral part of their function.
They commonly employ citizen science techniques that allow good quality environmental records to be collected that they can use to improve their knowledge based conservation work. The projects are fun, interesting and educational and cover a wide range of interests and abilities.
Biological Records Centres across Scotland
BRISC
Biological Recording In Scotland – BRISC is a charitable organisation that promotes the gathering of environmental data in order to increase public awareness about biological diversity in Scotland and to ensure that effective actions are taken to conserve this resource. BRISC encourages and supports all aspects of recording wildlife and wildlife habitats in Scotland, through local record centres, national recording schemes and societies, and individual recorders.
An accurate map of the area for Local Records Centre boundaries can be seen here.
| Shetland Biological Records Centre |
Glasgow Museum Biological Records Centre (including East and West Dunbartonshire) |
| Orkney Biodiversity Records Centre | Argyll and Bute (no Record Centre) Send records to Glasgow Museum Biological Records Centre |
| Highland Biological Recording Group | Islay Natural History Trust Wildlife Information Centre |
| Outer Hebrides Biological Recording Project | Fife Nature Records Centre (formerly FERN) |
| Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde LRC partnership | Skye Environmental Centre |
| The Wildlife Information Centre for the Lothians and the Borders | Leisure and Culture Dundee |
| North East Scotland Biological Records Centre | North and South Lanarkshire Biological Records Centres partnership |
| Perth Museum Biological Records Centre | Central Area (no Record Centre) |
| Arran Biological Records Centre | Falkirk Museum (no Record Centre) |
| Dumfries and Galloway Biological Records Centre partnership | Ayrshire Biological Records Centre partnership (no Record Centre) |