Scientists need YOU to look at photos of adorable penguins

Yes, really!

Penguin

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Penguin lovers of the world, scientists need YOU!

Yup, the Oxford University Team have installed a series of 75 cameras near penguin territories in Antarctica and its surrounding islands to figure out how climate change is affecting the local penguin population.

It’s officially the largest Antarctic citizen science venture in the world.

But, with each of those cameras taking hourly photos, they just can't get through every single adorable photo.

Well, not by themselves, anyway…

Penguin
©ALAMY

This is where YOU come in, penguin fans!

Speaking to the BBC, lead researcher Dr Tom Hart said: "We can't do this work on our own, and every penguin that people click on and count on the website - that's all information that tells us what's happening at each nest, and what's happening over time.”

The citizen science project - dubbed PenguinWatch 2.0 - is pretty simple to get involved in.

All you need to do is log on, look at photos, and identify adult penguins, chicks, and eggs in each image.

It just requires just a few clicks from you - and every single click could make a BIG difference.

Once you’re done, you can chat about your results in the website's 'Discuss' page with other volunteers - and you’ll also be able to see the results of their online efforts to monitor and conserve Antarctica's penguins colonies.

“People will be able to see [the results of] what they're doing,” Dr Hart added.

Sounds like a dream volunteer job to us!

Will you be joining the ranks of PenguinWatch 2.0?

Let us know via Facebook or Twitter (@CloserOnline) now.

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