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Home Meeman Events Edward J. Edward J. Meeman Biological Station

Memphis-Wide Urban Bioblitz

Memphis-Wide Urban BioBlitzThe grassroots movement known as citizen-science is coming to The University of Memphis Meeman Biological Station Friday April 8th and Saturday April 9th! Local middle and high school students will participate from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Friday (Student Day) and the community is invited to participate from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday (Public Day). A bird walk is also scheduled Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 AM and is open to all!

Meeman is one of five sites (also Lichterman Nature Center, Lucius Birch Natural Area, Overton Park and T.O. Fuller State Park) that will participate in this 24-hour event to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi and other organisms as possible. All data collected will be uploaded to iNaturalist and by the end of the day, we will have a snapshot of biodiversity in Memphis.

How can you participate? We need VOLUNTEERS!

  • to LEAD SCHOOL GROUPS of 5-10 students. You don't have to have any specific taxonomic expertise, you just have to be an enthusiastic leader who can help the students locate organisms to catalog. Excursions to various areas of the field station will last ~1 hour and you'll be asked to lead one or two excursions.

  • to WORK AT BASE CAMP organizing groups, data-cataloging, photographing, etc.

  • to be PART OF AN INDEPENDENT TEAM of data collectors, so come out to do that, even if you don't want to interact with the school groups.

We are also LOOKING FOR NATURALISTS from all backgrounds to come share their wealth of knowledge Saturday, as we make the final push to increase our biodiversity database.

How can you volunteer?

JUST SHOW UP, or better, fill out this form and email it to Dr. Cheryl Goudie.

What else do you need to do?

DOWNLOAD iNATURALIST on your smartphone before you come to base camp. Cell phone reception may be somewhat spotty, so you can't depend on it to be available.

Where is Base Camp?

The Laboratory Building at Meeman Biological Station. Follow the signs.

When should I arrive?

Set-up will begin about 8:00 AM and initial instructions will begin about 8:30 AM.

Want more information?

Check out the Memphis-Wide Urban BioBlitz Facebook page.