The Study on the Application of Citizen Science to the Penguin Monitoring project

Abstract

We reviewed previous research cases to examine the feasibility of applying citizen science to the monitoring and research of penguins in the Antarctic. Because access to the Antarctic region is limited, some people interested in polar research have participated in citizen science programs integrated with tourism, or census projects of weddell seals and penguins using crowdsourcing platforms. Since 2017, the Korean government (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) has been supporting a research and development project (R&D) on the ecosystem structure and function of the Ross Sea region MPA to contribute to CCAMLR(The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources)’s efforts to conserve the area. We suggest that citizens could participate in producing CEMP(CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program) data from large-scale photographs with scientists. Through the participation of penguin citizen science, ordinary citizens experience the process of knowledge co-production with scientists. It could not only provide a national-level scientific contribution to CCAMLR’s monitoring program, but also affect the direction and justification of polar research.