SXSW 2012 - Save the Planet, One Tweet at a Time

Save the Planet, One Tweet at a Time
Event	Interactive 2010
Format	Dual
Organizer	Jared Lamenzo – Mediated Spaces, Inc.
Description	Science has relied on amateur contributions for centuries (think Ben Franklin). Since the 1800s, people have been counting, rather than shooting, birds in an effort to conserve them for future generations. Twitter, the iPhone, and other technologies give citizens new power to respond to environmental challenges, and bring about change.
Questions Answered	What is citizen science, and how did it get started? How does the professional scientist relate to the citizen scientist? How are citizen science/crowd-sourced bird data vetted? What problems can be tackled with citizen science data, and how can volunteers contribute? How big is birding, and citizen science generally? How are client/server systems structured when networks aren't ubiquitous? What are some examples of citizen science programs in schools, and what interactions are engaging? How can social networking apps make it easier to let volunteers know how their data are used? In what ways can image recognition and augmented reality change the way people view natural phenomena around them? Can citizen science convey the urgency of environmental threats, and help formulate responses to habitat loss and climate change?
Level	Beginner
Category	Education, Geolocation, Green / Environmental, Mobile Applications, Social Networking

Save the Planet, One Tweet at a Time