This Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Hispanic Access Foundation partners invite families to step outdoors and embark on an exciting citizen science adventure.
Scientists from the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC) have partnered with Cumbre Kids, a podcast tailored for Spanish-speaking families, to create a special initiative during Latino Conservation Week, Sept. 14 to Sept. 22. This collaboration offers an opportunity for Hispanic families to explore local plants and wildlife while promoting environmental conservation.
“Citizen science is a powerful way for families to connect with nature and contribute to meaningful scientific research. By participating, families can learn about local biodiversity, develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and contribute data that scientists from around the world can use,” said Corey Callaghan, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of global ecology.
This initiative, supported by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, is led by the FLREC Global Ecology Research Group and leverages citizen-science data to understand species distribution and engage the public with biodiversity through digital tools.
The partnership has resulted in the creation of a fun and interactive activity sheet that challenges families to explore their local parks and identify and document different species using the iNaturalist app.
The initiative is centered around the iNaturalist project Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación and a children’s educational podcast in Spanish which aims to engage participants in tracking and documenting local biodiversity. Each episode of the prodcast Cráneo brings fun, child-friendly scientific lessons to Spanish-speaking families and classrooms, produced alongside leading Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) institutions like the NASA, NOAA, the Frost Science Center Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium in Miami, the Florida Museum of Natural History and many more partners throughout the United States, Spain and Latin America.
To support this effort, the team has produced a special podcast episode. Available in both English and Spanish, the episode introduces listeners to key concepts such as environmental conservation, data collection and community science. A corresponding blog post provides additional details and instructions for participating in the activity.
Participating in this virtual event is free and easy with these steps:
- Listen to the Podcast: Check out the Cráneo episode featuring Jessica Godinez, available in English and Spanish.
- Download the Activity Sheet: Get the printable bingo card with a list of plants and animals to look for in your local park.
- Explore and Document: Visit a nearby park, search for the species listed on the bingo card, and check them off as you find them.
- Share Your Observations: Upload photos of the species you find to the “Cráneo + Semana Latina de la Conservación” iNaturalist project. Follow the instructions on how to download to iNaturalist with this link.
For more information about the activity, the podcast and Latino Conservation Week, please visit the Cumbre Kids website or contact UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Para accesar a esta información en español, por favor utilice este enlace.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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