Group curators
Pen-Yuan Hsing
- @Nycticebus_scientia
- | he/they
MammalWeb.org
Amanda Matthes
Brianna Johns
- @briannajohns
- | she/they
Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH)
Despite critical advancements in the tech solutions available to conservationists worldwide, many existing tools are cost-prohibitive in the landscapes that need them most. Additionally, those who create low-cost and open-source alternatives to pricey market tech often operate on tight budgets themselves, meaning they need more resources to promote their solutions to a broader market. We need increased communication around these solutions to highlight their availability, share lessons learned in their creation, and avoid duplication of efforts.
This group is a place to share low-cost, open-source devices for conservation; describe how they are used, including what needs they are addressing and how they fit into the wider conservation tech market; identify the obstacles in advancing the capacity of these technologies; and to discuss the future of these solutions, particularly their sustainability and how best to collaborate moving forward. We welcome contributions from both makers and users, whether active or prospective.
Here is how we see the current OSS space and how this group plans to change it by supporting both makers and users:
Many users do not appreciate the significant benefits of open-source tech. This group will educate users about the advantages and the need for open-source tech, specifically in the context of ecology work. We achieve this by stimulating regular discussions on the forum and by encouraging and supporting users to use open-source tools wherever possible.
Building OSS can be difficult. We want to support both established and potential makers who wish to develop OSS. The OSS group is a place where makers can find funding opportunities, ask current and potential users questions, and share their technologies.
Using OSS can be difficult. We also want to support adopters of OSS tech. We do this by offering a place for users to share challenges they face and crowdsource advice on things like technology choice or technical support.
Makers do not know what users want or need. The OSS group is a place that facilitates conversations between makers and users. This will give users a voice and ensure that makers are aware of the needs of users, enabling them to build better solutions.
The community is small and scattered. We want to grow an inclusive community of OSS practitioners. Our goal is to become the go-to place for discussions on the topic where people feel a sense of belonging.
Resources for getting started
- How do I use open source remote sensing data in Google Earth Engine? | Tech Tutors
- How do I use open source remote sensing data to monitor fishing? | Tech Tutors
- Low Cost, Open Source Solutions | Virtual Meetup
- What would an open source conservation technology toolkit look like? | Discussion
- December 2024 Open Source Solutions Community Call
Header image: Shawn F. McCracken
Group curators
- @Nycticebus_scientia
- | he/they
MammalWeb.org
Co-founded citizen science camera-trapping project with interest in developing 100% open source wildlife tech. Advocate for open science/open research. Former Community Councilor of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware.
- 4 Resources
- 25 Discussions
- 3 Groups
trying to understand and improve the welfare of all animals that can suffer
- 4 Resources
- 6 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- @briannajohns
- | she/they
Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH)
Interested in the application of open source technologies for conservation research.
- 9 Resources
- 5 Discussions
- 4 Groups
No showcases have been added to this group yet.
Liverpool John Moores University
Sensors, remote sensing, embedded systems, Drones
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Wildlife Drones
Wildlife Drones has developed the world’s most innovative radio animal-tracking system using drones so you can track your radio-tagged animals like never before.
- 18 Resources
- 8 Discussions
- 31 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 8 Discussions
- 4 Groups
University of Suffolk
Sustainability Researcher • Environmental Data Scientist & Technologist • Earth Scientist
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 13 Groups
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent
Conservation Science PhD student at DICE, Kent. I am a GIS and remote sensing enthusiast as well as researcher. Been in love with the interaction between AI and conservation ever since I picked up a python crash course book out of curiosity during my undergraduate degree.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 12 Groups
- @pchwalek
- | He/him/his
I'm a PhD candidate in the Responsive Environments Group, working on electronic systems for human and wildlife monitoring.
- 0 Resources
- 18 Discussions
- 9 Groups
- @LauraKloepper
- | she/her
Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire. Our research aims to uncover behavioral principles underlying acoustic sensing, inspire the design of active sensing technology, and improve population monitoring for animal conservation.
- 1 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 3 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 14 Groups
Fauna & Flora
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 10 Groups
- @Phillip_Swart
- | He
I'm a conservationist working in the Vulture conservation space in South Africa with a huge passion for technology.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 17 Groups
- @GrunCrow
- | She/They
Computer Scientist
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 10 Groups
Funding
€4,000 travel grants are available for researchers interested in insect monitoring using automated cameras and computer vision
6 June 2024
Article
New WILDLABS Funding & Finance group
Frank van der Most
WildLabs will soon launch a 'Funding and Finance' group. What would be your wish list for such a group? Would you be interested in co-managing or otherwise helping out?
5 June 2024
Article
Share Your Work in a Conservation Technology Video
Robin Marti Sarasa
Do you have photos and videos of your conservation tech work? We want to include them in a conservation technology showcase video
17 May 2024
Funding
Travel grants for insect monitoring an AI
Tom August
€2,000 travel grants are available for researchers interested in insect monitoring using automated cameras and computer vision
3 May 2024
Article
The Inventory User Guide
Jake Burton
Read in detail about how to use The Inventory, our new living directory of conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects.
1 May 2024
Article
Introducing The Inventory!
Jake Burton
The Inventory is your one-stop shop for conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects. Start contributing to it now!
1 May 2024
Careers
Hiring Chief Engineer at Conservation X Labs
Henrik Cox
Technology to End the Sixth Mass Extinction. Salary: $132 - $160k; Location: Seattle WA; 7+ years of experience in hardware product development and manufacturing; View post for full job description
1 May 2024
Article
Earth Blox dataset review: Meta Global Canopy Height (1m)
Cassie Anderson
Review by Professor Iain H Woodhouse
29 April 2024
Careers
Applications Open: 2024 GOSH Ambassador Program
Brianna Johns
Apply to the inaugural GOSH Ambassador Program by June 15!
18 April 2024
Article
In a recent publication we tested Underwater Passive Acoustic Monitoring (UPAM) as a feasible non-invasive technique to study the calling behavior of therathened aquatic Andean frogs under natural conditions in the...
6 April 2024
Article
The Variety Hour: 2024 Lineup
Alex Rood
You’re invited to the WILDLABS Variety Hour, a monthly event that connects you to conservation tech's most exciting projects, research, and ideas. We can't wait to bring you a whole new season of speakers and...
22 March 2024
Link
The Freshwater Sounds Archive
Jack Greenhalgh
Introducing The Freshwater Sounds Archive, a global database of sounds produced by freshwater species. Submit your species-specific or unidentified sounds to the archive now and receive recognition for your...
15 March 2024
August 2025
event
Louisa Richmond-Coggan
September 2025
event
Louisa Richmond-Coggan
event
Louisa Richmond-Coggan
October 2025
event
Lacey Hughey and 3 more
June 2023
event
Hirari Sasaki
May 2023
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello Everyone! My name is Claire and I work as a Field Technician and Veterinarian for Arribada Initiative, check out our upcoming... |
|
Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 1 month ago | |
| Hi all! I am a mechanical engineer working in the Aerospace Engineering department at a University, and I have the opportunity to take over... |
|
Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 2 years 1 month ago | |
| There is the Conservation Tech Directory! There's an 'open-source' tag you can search by too. |
|
Open Source Solutions, Software Development | 2 years 1 month ago | |
| Hi everyone! and thanks @StephODonnell for the invite :)I’m a software engineer working on MLOps, and currently studying for a part-time... |
|
AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| Yes, but for our needs that are not powerful enough |
|
Acoustics, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi Andrea! Although I am a keen user and observer of the Moveapps initiative, my R or Python coding skills are next to non- existing. I am therefore not likely to be contributing... |
|
Animal Movement, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Open Source Solutions, Software Development | 2 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi Titus,If the usual syntactic foam sources aren't available, an option may be to add an empty dry housing or use a larger housing for the BRUV, just to provide the buoyancy.You... |
|
Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 6 months ago | |
| No, I was never able to figure out how to send these to anyone on here. I was hoping to learn how to clear these videos up if possible! |
|
Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Open Source Solutions, Software Development | 2 years 7 months ago | |
| Hi all, one of the 8 MozFest 2023 spaces is 'Tech & Biodiversity', and the organisers seek input for an event on the intersection of... |
|
AI for Conservation, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 8 months ago | |
| Hey Sol, The only way for you to collect information from a GPS tag attached to a FAD is if that tag transmits that data to the drone. Unfortunately most receiver packages... |
|
Drones, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 8 months ago | |
| The open-source program Audacity can show the spectrograms and histograms and has quite a lot of other useful features, e.g. playing ultrasound calls slower, so it can be heard by... |
|
Acoustics, Citizen Science, Data management and processing tools, Open Source Solutions, Software Development | 2 years 9 months ago | |
| Oh, that looks so good, and some heavy hitting design firms too! |
|
Animal Movement, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 10 months ago |
