Activities/Proposals/BioBlitz: Difference between revisions
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== Outline == | == Outline == | ||
BioBlitz is a citizen science project that encourages students to carry out a biological survey of a given area. | BioBlitz is a citizen science project that encourages students to carry out a biological survey of a given area. | ||
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* Jump-start working with schools around the UK; letting them know that we exist, and can help them. | * Jump-start working with schools around the UK; letting them know that we exist, and can help them. | ||
* Association with media coverage of the event | * Association with media coverage of the event | ||
* Additionally foster links between Wikimedia and ''[http://www.festivalofnature.org/ Bristol Natural History Consortium]'', which could potentially lead to other joint projects | |||
== Requirements == | == Requirements == | ||
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Technical: | Technical: | ||
* Construction and hosting of a website for recording the results of the survey, with links in to Wikimedia websites | * Construction and hosting of a website for recording the results of the survey and for surrounding material, with links in to Wikimedia websites | ||
* | * Website has to support records, images, video (Ogg, using Firefogg to convert on upload?), audio. Potential for this to use a lot of disk space -> likely would need better webhost. Question over interaction between free licenses and video created by children. | ||
* Two facets to website: Wiki for backend of record database + general use for other things, and a custom front-end for adding records of objects found | |||
* Custom front-end: PHP website with MySQL database and hooks into MediaWiki API. At its most basic, it would need to have a form to create a database entry (most data stored in a wiki template for easy modification; some information e.g. observer name needs to be kept private and would go into the separate database), keep a running tally and have options to export the data (CSV format?). Extra features could be added if time permits, e.g. links with maps (OSM/Wikimapia). | |||
Although it may be possible to just provide advice, and not technical assistance, this would weaken the collaborative link between Wikimedia and BioBlitz. | Although it may be possible to just provide advice, and not technical assistance, this would weaken the collaborative link between Wikimedia and BioBlitz. | ||
Revision as of 11:16, 20 December 2009
Outline
BioBlitz is a citizen science project that encourages students to carry out a biological survey of a given area.
The world-wide project started in 1996; the first UK-based event was held in Bristol 2009.
The project has strong support of schools, but is lacking technical support; last year's project ran from a WordPress blog.
Further information:
Benefits
By assisting this event we can:
- Foster links between BioBlitz and Wikimedia websites
- Encourage students to edit biological articles on Wikispecies and Wikipedia
- Increase the number of freely licensed photographs available (caveat: potentially not of the highest quality)
- Jump-start working with schools around the UK; letting them know that we exist, and can help them.
- Association with media coverage of the event
- Additionally foster links between Wikimedia and Bristol Natural History Consortium, which could potentially lead to other joint projects
Requirements
Two sections: advice and technical
Advice:
- Talks on how people can use the Wikimedia websites
Technical:
- Construction and hosting of a website for recording the results of the survey and for surrounding material, with links in to Wikimedia websites
- Website has to support records, images, video (Ogg, using Firefogg to convert on upload?), audio. Potential for this to use a lot of disk space -> likely would need better webhost. Question over interaction between free licenses and video created by children.
- Two facets to website: Wiki for backend of record database + general use for other things, and a custom front-end for adding records of objects found
- Custom front-end: PHP website with MySQL database and hooks into MediaWiki API. At its most basic, it would need to have a form to create a database entry (most data stored in a wiki template for easy modification; some information e.g. observer name needs to be kept private and would go into the separate database), keep a running tally and have options to export the data (CSV format?). Extra features could be added if time permits, e.g. links with maps (OSM/Wikimapia).
Although it may be possible to just provide advice, and not technical assistance, this would weaken the collaborative link between Wikimedia and BioBlitz.
Volunteering
Would need:
- People to give talks and provide guidance
- Technical people to work on the website
If you're interested in helping out with this proposal, please sign below with *~~~: