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2020 International Biodiversity Championship

Call for Team Registration

An eagle sits atop a fence post in an open rangeland.
 

Calling all Ecologists, Naturalists, Biodiversity Scientists, and Observers!

Just how many organisms do you think you can find?

The 2020 International Biodiversity Championship will be conducted across the globe.  The competition will take place 3 August 2020 – 6 August, 2020 under the auspices of the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America.  The award ceremony will be at the Natural History Meeting Mixer 4:30 6 August, 2020.

AIM AND SCOPE:  This year we are highlighting how natural history and biodiversity can create communities across generational and geographical barriers, as virtual teams document the macroscopic diversity of life on backyard adventures and full scale expeditions. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/international-biodiversity-championship-2020 . 

Teams will consist of 2-5 individuals with individual iNaturalist registrations, pre-registered as a “Project” through the competition registration form located here:  https://forms.gle/n8N1RcKiB5aHWFMP8 .  

New this year are team composition requirements:  Team members do not need to be in the same geographic location.

Need help in figuring out how to register for iNaturalist?  This YouTube link is helpful:  https://youtu.be/yJS63hdWGvs, and the iNaturalist tutorials will walk you through everything if you are unfamiliar with the app.  You can find the tutorials here:  https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/video+tutorials .

The Championship page and leaderboard will be found here:  

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/international-biodiversity-championship-2020 .  

Observations can be dated from 12:01 Midnight on 3 August (EDT) to 3:30 PM (EDT) 6 August.  

Observations must be entered into iNaturalist, and registered as either “Research Grade” or “Needs ID”.  “Casual” observations will not be included in team totals.  To this end, inclusion of supporting evidence (usually a photo or sound recording) will be very helpful.

PRIZES AND FAME will be lavished upon those found worthy of the title “International Biodiversity Champions!”  Current sponsors include the Ecological Society of America, NaturalistPodcast.com, and Code5design.net

QUESTIONS can be sent to biodiversitychampionship@nullgmail.com

We look forward to your registration, and your amazing sightings!