The EXPBIO project is tackling the issue of plant blindness by creating educational tools that encourage greater recognition of native plants and biodiversity. In recent sessions at Gothenburg Botanical Garden, international students participated in hands-on activities, such as using the iNaturalist app to identify wildflowers, which helped increase their awareness of local plant species.
Raising Awareness of Biodiversity with Citizen Science
Plant blindness, the tendency to overlook or fail to recognize the plants in one’s environment, is a challenge that affects our understanding and appreciation of biodiversity. As part of the EXPBIO project, we are developing and testing educational tools to increase awareness of native wildflowers and biodiversity through practical, hands-on experiences.
Recently, two stakeholder meetings were held at the Gothenburg Botanical Garden for international students enrolled in sustainability courses at the University of Gothenburg. These sessions were designed to gather feedback on a lesson plan focused on reducing plant blindness and enhancing learning about local native plants.
During these meetings, 48 students participated in three activities: matching plant names to images, taking part in an outdoor quiz on plant biology, and joining a meadow excursion where they used iNaturalist and magnifying glasses to identify wildflowers. Feedback from the students was positive, with many particularly enjoying the time spent in the meadow. The use of iNaturalist was well-received, with students finding it both engaging and easy to use as a tool for learning about plant diversity.
An interesting observation from these sessions was that several students became aware of their own plant blindness, despite not being familiar with the term before. While this insight alone doesn't solve the broader challenge of plant blindness, it shows the potential of using citizen science as a tool for raising awareness and promoting the understanding of biodiversity.
These meetings are part of the EXPBIO project’s broader efforts to address plant blindness across the North Sea Region. By involving students in these hands-on activities and collecting their feedback, we aim to improve our educational materials and to develop a methodology on how to integrate Citizens science in both education and communication.
