The MicroBlitz App is an easy-to-use smartphone app designed to assist citizen scientist volunteers to collect soil samples from across Western Australia. The app automatically records the time and location (GPS) of each soil sample taken and allows users to their log kit number and associated observations (including a photo) before uploading that data in real time to the MicroBlitz website (http://www.microblitz.com.au). Soil samples are then posted to the MicroBlitz team at the School of Earth and Environment, UWA, for further analysis. In order to receive soil sample kits you must register as a MicroBlitz volunteer via either the app or the website.
MicroBlitz is a citizen science project where crowd-sourced science is building a state-wide map detailing the biodiversity and health of our environment using DNA sequencing to identify the biodiversity of microbes in our soils. Together, we’ll create a baseline map, a point of reference that can be shared and used to monitor, manage and protect WA’s precious environment into the future.
This app is part of Gaia Resources Citizen Science Hub (http://citizensciencehub.gaiaresources.com.au), an open access, dynamic, citizen science initiative which utilises smart phone technology and social media to engage, enable and empower local communities, industry, NGOs and researchers to gather scientific observations concerning their natural environment.