Try science at home with the #StayHome BiodiversityChallenge
Stuck together in isolation, three
University of Queensland scientists have started a new online challenge to get us more acquainted with our (very) local wildlife.
The #StayHomeBiodiversityChallenge is the brainchild of housemates
Dr Russell Yong,
Dr Andrew Rogers and
Dr Matthew Holden - a UQ taxonomist, ecologist, and mathematician.
The scientists are hoping people around the world will take notice of the species that live in their homes and backyards, tweeting their findings and photos with the hashtag #StayHomeBiodiversityChallenge.
“It all started when I was cleaning my room out of sheer boredom at the beginning of this ‘new normal’ - lockdown,” biodiversity researcher Dr Rogers said.
“I was trying to move all the spiders outside, instead of vacuuming them up, and I had to move a lot of spiders.
“I wondered how many spiders I share the house with, quickly followed by wondering how many moths, flies, butterflies, reptiles and plants share the house with us all.”
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