Increasing Field Station Visibility - OBFS Forum

iNaturalist

AmandaYoung — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 22:05:26 +0000

Due to the overwhelming amount of support and encouragement from the OBFS iNaturalist email I sent out earlier this week. I thought I would try to make a discussion post here on the OBFS webpage for further discussion so as not to clog up inboxes. Though I am super excited that we have such and active group wanting to participate.

Admittedly I don't really know what I am doing beyond having created an umbrella project in iNaturalist for as many of the OBFS field stations that I could find. Maybe here those of us that know how to make projects can show others. Those of you that have been using iNaturalst can suggest ways that we as a group can do more and better with recording our observations.

Plan a 2025 Bioblitz between stations? Increase our visitor communities to post and participate. So many things.

It might turn out that we want to keep the conversation going in emails but since this great tool is here I thought we would give it ago.

If your want to be involved please join the umbrella project in iNaturalist. Then if you would like to be part of the administration of this effort let me know. I would love for a couple other folks to also help lead the way. If you are not sure about that but want to be part of the brainstorming and setting up your own project. Reach out here as well.

Like I said, I am new to all this so am just trying my best and would love for those with more experience to add some guidance. Looking forward to continuing to connect with you all and keep the suggestions coming.

peace,

Amanda

Outreach

struminger — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:15:53 +0000

How has outreach (informal education initiatives such as citizen science programs, after school programs, summer camps or family events) helped improve your station's visibility?

Social media

struminger — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:14:12 +0000

How is your station leveraging social media? What audience are you targeting and which platforms have been the most successful for getting your message heard?

Strategic Memberships, Partnerships and Affiliations

struminger — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:12:26 +0000

Does your station partner with other groups or organizations to help improve its visibility/expand its user pool? Which organizations and how helpful has membership or partnership been for your field station? Please share your stories!

Acknowledgements

struminger — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:08:30 +0000

In publications, posters, press releases or other deliverables, how are you making sure your station is recognized and how is the station tracking that acknowledgement? Please share any policies your station may have.

Some ideas for best practices include:

1) When registering to stay or work at your field station, visiting researchers should receive a confirmation letter that includes the station's policy on how it should be acknowledged in any findings or presentations that rely on data collected or analyzed at the field station.

2) When appropriate, scientists should be encouraged to include the field station as one of the institutions with which they are affiliated. If the station wants the affiliation, the station should make a high and low resolution logo available for inclusion in posters and talks.

3) Ask for copies of anything that uses the station logo or cites the station