As marine citizen science gains increasing recognition, the event "Move Out, Ocean Minions! — Marine Citizen Science Carnival" was held on October 26 at Academia Sinica. The event not only showcased the results of the Ocean Conservation Administration's (OCA) 2023 "Decoding the Ocean, Seeing the Future" initiative, but also underscored the vital role citizen science plays in marine conservation. OCA Chairperson Kuan Pi-ling and a number of experts shared their perspectives on the importance of systematically collecting and openly sharing data, calling on the public to actively participate in marine conservation.
The OCA Chairperson attended the "Move Out, Ocean Minions!" event, joining hands to build a better ocean for all
The Power of Citizen Science
In her opening remarks, Kuan Pi-ling noted that promoting the widespread adoption of marine citizen science can not only raise public awareness of the ocean, but also help build a robust marine database. She emphasized that public participation as citizen scientists is a cornerstone of marine conservation efforts. As one example, 32 fishers from Changhua and Yunlin contributed 1,263 data entries on cownose rays within a single year — data that plays a significant role in filling critical research gaps on the species.
Everyone can be an ocean minion for marine conservation. Through citizen science, we can embed ocean awareness more deeply into the hearts of all people.
— Chairperson Kuan Pi-ling
Kuan expressed her hope that through these efforts, every participant would feel the significance of their own contribution to marine conservation, and that technology would be further applied to ocean protection and pollution prevention.
Local fishers reporting voluntarily — their data plays a significant role in filling critical research gaps on the species
Systematic Data Collection
During the event's presentations, Lin De-en, Associate Researcher at the Biodiversity Research Institute under the Council of Agriculture and a driving force behind the Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network, also stressed the importance of systematically collecting data. He believes that citizen science requires a comprehensive data collection mechanism in order to effectively track and analyze biodiversity and hotspots around Taiwan. Public participation, he argued, yields more diverse datasets that not only help government agencies evaluate where to direct resources, but also lay the groundwork for future research.
Lin offered this perspective: the data provided by citizens is more than just numbers — it is information intimately connected to the ecology of this land. "Through systematic data collection, we can better understand the changes in Taiwan's marine biodiversity and conduct targeted analyses and improvements for different environments." He emphasized that only by integrating and analyzing data can more effective conservation strategies be developed.
Associate Researcher Lin De-en encouraged everyone to get involved in citizen science activities and make the ordinary extraordinary through action
Perhaps you, too, can do what we do — choose a road that seems insignificant, walk your own path, and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary!
— Associate Researcher Lin De-en
The Importance of Open Data
Project Manager Hsu Cheng-hsin hopes to see data used flexibly — without open access, its full value can never be realized
Hsu Cheng-hsin, Project Manager at the Digital Culture Center of Academia Sinica, focused on the issue of open data, emphasizing the importance of making scientific data freely accessible. He pointed out that without an effective open-access mechanism, the value of scientific data cannot be fully realized. By establishing open platforms, he argued, anyone can use the data for innovation and application, thereby advancing both scientific research and broader societal development.
"The purpose of open data is to allow more researchers and members of the public to make use of this information — whether in academic research or everyday life, everyone stands to benefit," he said. He stressed that open data not only facilitates the flow of information, but also increases public engagement and, in turn, enhances the transparency of conservation work.
A Shared Future for Marine Conservation
The Ocean Path team from Penghu, deeply rooted in the local community and focused on documenting nudibranch biodiversity
With the promotion of the "Ocean Minions" initiative, Kuan Pi-ling and other experts called on all sectors of society to work together and embed the principles of marine conservation into public consciousness. Going forward, the OCA will continue to host related seminars and outreach activities to raise public awareness of and concern for the ocean.
"Only when all of society participates together can we truly protect this vast blue ocean," Kuan concluded. Through the efforts of citizen scientists, we look forward to witnessing the revival and flourishing of Taiwan's marine ecosystem in the not-too-distant future — making marine biodiversity not a dream for tomorrow, but a reality of today.
This event was more than a declaration of commitment to ocean protection; it was a promise made by every participant to the future. Let us join hands to create a better ocean tomorrow and become true ocean minions!
Research findings are just one piece of the puzzle — promoting marine citizen education must be rooted from the ground up
Related Links
- Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council
- Ocean Minions Event Page
- Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network
- Taiwan Biodiversity Information Alliance
Further Reading
