Like Looking At Pictures of Cute Penguins? Science Needs Your Help
British scientists are asking the public to help them analyse thousands of photos of penguins as part of a study in Antarctica.
As part of PenguinWatch 2.0, 75 cameras have been set up across Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands to capture images of the cute, flightless birds.
However, with all of those camera taking hourly snaps, the scientists simply don’t have time to monitor all of the photos.
“We can’t do this work on our own,” Lead researcher Dr Tom Hart told the BBC.
All people need to do to join in is log in at the Penguin Watch 2.0 site, and identify adult penguins, chicks and eggs within each image.
The penguin snaps will help scientists to work out why populations are declining (PenguinWatch 2.0)
Volunteers can also discuss their findings with others on the site’s forum and will also be able to see the results of what they’re doing.
Well over 26,000 people are already participating in the Penguin-based project.
Scientists will combine the findings with climate, pollution and fisheries data to figure out what’s driving declines in penguin populations
Studying the penguins can also tell the scientists a lot about Antarctica as a whole.
People partaking in the project will get the chance to pore over adorable snaps of King, Rockhopper, Chinstrap, Adelie and Gentoo penguins.
Image credit: PenguinWatch 2.0
