The University of Otago’s Sustainability Office is inviting the Dunedin community to connect with nature and contribute to global science by participating in its first-ever ‘BioBlitz’ on the Ōtepoti campus on Friday, 24 April.
The event encourages students, staff, and the public to become citizen scientists for a day. Using the iNaturalist smartphone app, participants will explore the campus and document the animals, plants, and fungi they encounter. The free event will run from 9am to 5pm, with a central hub located on the Union Lawn.
Otago's Head of Sustainability, Ray O’Brien, says the BioBlitz is a chance for the community to engage with the natural world and enhance their understanding of local biodiversity. The event is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their scientific background.
How citizen science works
Participants will use the iNaturalist app to take photos of organisms, which are then uploaded to a global database. The app uses artificial intelligence to suggest identifications, which are later confirmed by a worldwide community of experts and naturalists. This crowdsourced verification is a core part of the citizen science model.
It’s a great opportunity to connect with nature and increase your own knowledge of biodiversity, while also contributing to a global scientific resource.
Once an observation is verified by the community, it becomes ‘research-grade’ data. This information, which includes geographic tags and timestamps, is invaluable for scientific research, tracking environmental changes, and informing conservation strategies. The data collected during the Otago BioBlitz will contribute to a global biodiversity database managed by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.
“We want this event to become a highlight on our annual calendar,” Mr O’Brien says, highlighting the long-term value of building a comprehensive biological record of the campus. He also noted the event could serve as a unique team-building exercise for local businesses or a simple lunch-break activity for individuals wanting to get outdoors.
A student-led initiative
The BioBlitz is being organised by Tabitha Heaton, a Human Sciences student from the University of Exeter in England. Ms Heaton is completing an industry placement at Otago’s Sustainability Office, bringing with her direct experience from a similar event at her home university in 2024.
That BioBlitz, held on Exeter’s Penryn campus, led to a remarkable discovery: a species of jumping spider previously unknown to science. The 4mm spider, now named Anasaitis milsesae, is believed to have arrived in the UK on imported plants from its native Caribbean. “It would be amazing if something similar happened at the Otago BioBlitz,” Ms Heaton says. “But even if it doesn’t, I’m sure people taking part will be pleasantly surprised at the biodiversity on offer here, and they may well discover pockets of Otago’s beautiful campus they haven’t previously explored.” Seeing what is right under your nose is one of the joys of exploring the many fishing in New Zealand opportunities available in Dunedin.
A global connection
Ms Heaton has been working with academics from the University of Otago's Zoology and Botany departments to plan the day’s activities. The event coincides with the City Nature Challenge, a global urban BioBlitz that encourages cities around the world to compete in documenting their local wildlife over the same weekend.
Activities planned for the Dunedin event include guided nature walks, scavenger hunts, and stream sampling in the Water of Leith, which flows through the campus. The central hub on the Union Lawn will act as a meeting point for these guided sessions.
Ms Heaton’s passion for the natural world began during her childhood in Brighton, England, where she would eagerly await the annual return of migrating swifts. Her placement at Otago came about after a family friend in Dunedin connected her with Professor Janet Stephenson at the university's Centre for Sustainability Research.
“Dunedin is a very welcoming place to arrive to,” Ms Heaton says. “The people I’ve met have been incredibly friendly and kind, and I’m in awe of the beaches, unique vegetation and wildlife in Otago. I feel very lucky to be spending these 10 months here.”
Looking to the future, Ms Heaton hopes to work in conservation, environmental policy or law to increase public engagement with nature and elevate the environment in public decision-making. “I believe that engaging the public in science and nature is an important and powerful way to transform how the environment is viewed and therefore treated,” she says.
The BioBlitz will take place rain or shine on Friday, 24 April. No registration is required, and attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and download the free iNaturalist app before they arrive.
