Important information
The National AI Centre (NAIC) is transitioning from CSIRO to the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources (DISR) on 1st July 2024. You can find the latest NAIC content at industry.gov.au. For any NAIC-related questions, please email NAIC@industry.gov.au.
About
As part of National Science Week 2025, CSIRO is launching its inaugural National Science Experiment: CSIRO Wild Watch, a nationwide citizen science initiative. Australians of all ages are encouraged to step outside, explore their local environment, observe native flora and fauna, and record their findings using an adult created and maintained iNaturalist account. This initiative aims to inspire families, schools, and community groups to engage with nature while playing an active role in understanding and protecting Australia’s unique ecosystems. Whether you're a student, teacher, parent, or nature enthusiast, CSIRO Wild Watch offers a hands-on opportunity to become a citizen scientist. Comprehensive resources are available to support participation, making it easy to get involved. So, grab your device, head outdoors, and help CSIRO uncover the secrets of our biodiversity because every observation helps science, and every discovery counts.
The student worksheets have been designed for printing; therefore, only an accessible PDF version has been supplied.
Available resources
Australian Curriculum links
View how these resources can be linked to certain learning areas within the Australian curriculum.
Download Australian Curriculum links PDF (435 KB)
Download Australian Curriculum links - text version TXT (9 KB)
Teacher and student resources
To comply with child safety standards, we ask that only adults engage with the iNaturalist platform.
CSIRO National Science Experiment: CSIRO Wild Watch guides and general information
These resources offer a clear overview of CSIRO Wild Watch and explain how adults and young people can get involved in the CSIRO National Science Experiment. Learn how to create an iNaturalist account on behalf of a group of young people, upload iNaturalist observations, how technology is used in the National Reseach Collections Australia, and much more.
- CSIRO Wild Watch - How to Guide PDF (227 KB)
- CSIRO Wild Watch – Student Presentation PPTX (79 MB)
- CSIRO Wild Watch - iNaturalist Teacher Guide PDF (658 KB)
- CSIRO Wild Watch – iNaturalist Instructional Observation Videos
- CSIRO Wild Watch Technology in CSIRO National Reseach Collections Australia PDF (196 KB)
CSIRO National Science Experiment: CSIRO Wild Watch Wild Files
The CSIRO Wild Files are short resources that highlight priority plant and animal groups linked to CSIRO research, explaining their significance and offering interesting facts. They help guide participants in selecting organisms to observe during Wild Watch, ensuring data collected supports ongoing research efforts. These files also provide a valuable opportunity for discussions about biodiversity monitoring and the importance of recording species sightings.
- CSIRO Wild Files Guide PDF (516 KB)
- CSIRO Wild Files Presentation PPTX (57 MB)
- Wild Files Priority Organisms PDF (956 KB)
CSIRO National Science Experiment: CSIRO Wild Watch Wild Files Activities
The CSIRO Wild Files include three optional activities designed to engage students in learning about focus organisms in different ways, suitable for various learning levels. Teachers can choose the activities that best fit their students, with the Wanted Poster and Map activities recommended for Primary School, and the Map and Book Page activities for Secondary School. These activities also serve as a great starting point for discussions about the featured organisms.
- Wild Files: Wanted Poster Activity PDF (508 KB)
- Wild Files: Sightings Map Activity PDF (80 KB)
- Wild Files: AmAZed! Mini Bookpage PDF (421 KB)