‘Citizen-Science Only Way To Popularise Wildlife Research’: Founder Of iNaturewatch Foundation Dr V Shubhalaxmi

In preparation for the moth week from July 17 to July 29 later this year, Dr V Shubhalaxmi, the founder and managing trustee of Kharghar based iNaturewatch Foundation, delivered a session at the third national conference on ‘Lesser-Known Species’ in Bhopal.

The session was titled ‘Cracking the Code: Moth Identification and Citizen Science’. She emphasised the role of citizen-science in documenting Madhya Pradesh’s moth diversity. Organised by the Society of Nature Healers Conservators India (SNHC India), the conference invited experts, researchers, students, and forest officials to discuss biodiversity and conResearchers, students, and forest officials to discuss biodiversity and conservation strategies.

In her talk, Dr Shubhalaxmi highlighted key identification techniques and discussed the ecological importance of moths as indicators of environmental health. She said, “Citizen-science is not a new concept but is in its nascent stages in India. Many researchers and senior scientists have yet to fully tap into the potential of involving citizen scientists in their work. Perhaps they perceive training amateurs as time-consuming or hesitate uals without formal scientific backgrounds.”

A significant portion of her session focused on the urgent need for moth documentation, particularly given their data-deficient status, and the role these species play in broader biodiversity monitoring efforts. She also showcased global examples of how citizen participation has enriched moth research, to rely on passionate individuals value of collaborative conservation efforts, for which benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

She said, “To me, investing in future generations is a contribution to the advancement of science; we must cultivate the next line of researchers. Moreover, citizen-science is the only way to popularise wildlife research and make it more accessible to the broader public,” she said.