Description: iNaturalist is a web-based science platform broadly utilized by amateurs, professional biologists, and academicians. Its incorporation into daily fieldwork has helped communicate knowledge and organize our perceptions of the natural world.  The presenters will review the origins and history of iNaturalist and outline ways that you can get involved and contribute.  They will demonstrate how to use the desktop version LIVE and walk you through every step of making an “observation”.  There will be plenty of time for questions. 

Presenters: Skyler Principe works for Friends of the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area). He has been using iNaturalist for four years. Jürgen Samyn is a former forestry researcher for the Flemish government (Belgium), who after immigrating to the US decided to go work in the IT sector. Despite changing continents and careers, he's been a naturalist since a very young age, but only truly rekindled that passion in early 2024. Yun Park is the President of the Entomology Club at the University of Michigan, and an iNaturalist-borne plant and bird enthusiast.