Koala Guardians: Empowering community to protect an Australian icon

迫切需要创新的方法来应对考拉的普遍减少。该项目旨在开发技术，整合行为改变理论和社区共同设计，使公众能够参与考拉保护。这一跨学科倡议将利用公民科学的力量，促进互惠互利的教育互动。预期成果包括生产创新的太阳能蓝牙耳标，以及共同设计一款智能手机应用程序，通过利用游戏化、户外娱乐和旅游来教育和激励用户识别考拉疾病的迹象并提交目击报告。这一蓝图可以被修改以帮助其他受威胁的物种。

There is an urgent need for innovative approaches to combat widespread decline of koalas. This project aims to develop technology, integrating behavioural change theory and community co-design, to enable the public to participate in koala conservation. This interdisciplinary initiative will harness the power of citizen science to facilitate mutually-beneficial educational interactions. Expected outcomes include the production of innovative solar-powered Bluetooth ear tags and co-designing a smartphone application that educates and incentivises users in recognising signs of koala disease and submitting sightings, by leveraging gamification, outdoor recreation and tourism. This blueprint can be adapted to assist other threatened species.