From Local Spiders to Global Science: Michelle Neil’s Lifelong Drive for Citizen Science

Michelle Neil has been at the forefront of Australia’s citizen science movement for years, and her enthusiasm has only grown. Through her roles with the Australian Citizen Science Association (ACSA) and the Great Southern BioBlitz, she has helped the movement grow into a dynamic, inclusive space for researchers and everyday people alike.

She spoke about how much has changed since the last major conference in November 2023. New initiatives have taken root, including citizen science corners designed for libraries, helping educators engage their communities. There’s been growing collaboration with teams monitoring the Great Barrier Reef and international involvement, such as contributing a citizen science section to the United Nations’ World Environment Situation Room. She mentioned preparations for a possible trip to the next UN Environment Programme conference in Nairobi.

Her calendar has been full. She had just returned from New Zealand’s National Science Festival, where she gave a presentation, and was gearing up for the It Takes a Spark conference in Brisbane. The formation of a New South Wales ACSA branch had just launched, and connections with New Zealand’s grassroots citizen science networks were strengthening. She described being inspired by their projects, particularly Marine Meters Squared and Litter Intelligence—initiatives she sees as having strong parallels with Australian efforts like Tangaroa Blue.

The pandemic years marked a shift in public participation. With people confined to their homes, engagement in citizen science exploded. Now, a new trend has emerged: citizen science tourism. People are increasingly traveling to contribute to field research, biodiversity mapping, and conservation work.

This October, CitSciOz 25 will take place in Melbourne, under the theme “A Catalyst for Change.” The event aims to bring together 300 people in a 50/50 mix of scientists and community members. Hosted at Melbourne Connect, the conference includes workshops, networking dinners, and informal outings before and after the main event. Michelle shared that while the event will be entirely face-to-face, all sessions will be recorded, edited, and uploaded for attendees and later the public to access.

Sponsorships have been a crucial part of the planning. Earthwatch has taken the platinum spot, with additional support from institutions like the Australian Museum, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, and RMIT. Though ACSA has secured enough funds to run the event, Michelle noted that additional sponsors would enable subsidised attendance for students and citizen scientists.

Organising such an event involves coordination across borders. The committee includes members from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and New Zealand. Monthly planning sessions are run with help from their event manager, who keeps everything on track.

Her own path into citizen science began when her young son proudly showed her a redback spider he had picked up. Choosing curiosity over panic, she encouraged his interest and turned it into an opportunity. That moment sparked a deeper engagement with the natural world and led to family involvement in projects on iNaturalist, Quest Game, and various other platforms.

She now manages a suite of about 50 citizen science apps, each thoroughly vetted before she recommends them. iNaturalist and Quest Game remain her favourites, along with FrogID, SciStarter, and Snap Send Solve. She has also created her own projects. One, called Space Scurvy, helps students test vitamin C levels in juice. Another, Bright Sparks, measures classroom lighting to identify whether spaces meet optimal learning conditions.

These projects don’t just bring science into schools—they help students ask questions about the world around them and propose solutions. She recalled a student who, after testing a fruit juice and finding no vitamin C, promptly suggested removing it from the school tuckshop shelves.

Her enthusiasm is matched by her commitment to ethics and transparency. For every app or platform she supports, she checks where the data goes and whether it provides real value to both users and researchers. She also ensures that citizen scientists are credited and their contributions respected.

Michelle regularly returns to the Cooloola BioBlitz, a standout event on the citizen science calendar. Hosted in Queensland’s Ben Bennett Bushland Park, the BioBlitz is part of an effort to achieve World Heritage listing for the area by demonstrating its unique biodiversity. Dozens of new species have been recorded thanks to these events, and Michelle highlighted the collaborative spirit, including the involvement of local Traditional Owners, who often share Indigenous names and knowledge about the species found.

She explained the logistical complexities of these events—permits, field coordination, and safety protocols—but described them as deeply rewarding. From spiders to beetles to native flora, these explorations keep her engaged, informed, and continually amazed.

She finished by reciting the ten principles of citizen science—an effort that reinforces the values of transparency, open data, mutual respect, and meaningful collaboration that underlie the entire movement.

Michelle Neil continues to be a force for change. From classrooms to national conferences and global forums, her work bridges science and society with energy and clarity. For those attending CitSciOz 25 in Melbourne, it will be an opportunity not just to learn from her, but to join the growing network of people contributing to science in everyday life.