CRESCO – Citizen Rescuers for Collections

Science needs you from October. Become a Citizen Rescuer for the biology collections! 

Are you interested in science but have no formal scientific training? Do you want to contribute to scientific research while learning about the world around you and meeting people with similar interests?

Then come join us on a journey of discovery and help us preserve our biology collections by contributing to research, from home or inside the museum. You can help by transcribing and annotating labels of insects, by preparing wood samples or by cleaning and photographing bird specimens.

Become a Citizen Rescuer and dive into the extraordinary world of the Institute of Natural Sciences and the AfricaMuseum!  

CRESCO has received funding from the IMPETUS consortium and is part of the IMPETUS Accelerator for Citizen Science program. 

MORE INFO: Learn how to acces the data. 

  • Join the tree squad in the AfricaMuseum 

    Do you prefer using machines and technology? Researcher Ruben De Blaere needs your help to digitize the Tervuren wood collection and develop state-of-the-art wood identification techniques. You will prepare samples with the help of a polishing grinder and provide annotations of different visible tissues using image segmentation. The digitization of wood samples contributes to the protection and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the sustainable management of forests which can aid in halting and reversing land degradation and biodiversity loss. Illegal logging has been a persistent problem for many years and to combat this issue, fast and reliable wood identification tools are needed.  

    The Bird and the Tree Squads are now complete and the recruitment period is over. By filling in the form, you agree to receive news on future Citizen Science projects.

  • Join the bird squad in the AfricaMuseum 

    Would you rather be more hands-on? You can join Annelore Nackaerts, collection manager, and Larissa Smirnova, research assistant, inside the AfricaMuseum. They are currently cleaning and digitizing our bird collection, but thousands of samples are still waiting to be taken good care of. You can help with cleaning, photographing, updating databases and transcribing labels. In this way, you will contribute to making the collections better known to researchers worldwide and to encouraging future research. 

    The Bird and the Tree Squads are now complete and the recruitment period is over. By filling in the form, you agree to receive news on future Citizen Science projects.

  • Join the bug squad from home 

    Volunteer online on the platform DoeDat, from the comfort of your own home! Wouter Dekoninck, Entomology collection curator at the Institute of Natural Sciences, needs your help to transcribe the labels of the mites in the Cooreman collection, which is part of one of the most complete mite collections worldwide. You will transcribe data on their locality and how and on which host they were collected, which is crucial knowledge in health issues. Indeed, many species are of medical importance as host or vector of parasites for humans and vertebrates.  

    Register now!

 

More info