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CSIRO Robot Responders

This National Science Week (15-23 August) give young people the chance to explore how robots are designed and used in the real world, guided by robotics experts at CSIRO.

Designed for curious minds, this year’s National Science Experiment invites young people to explore how robots move, sense the world, and solve problems – and how they can work with us to take on tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans to do alone.

[Music plays and a rear view image appears of three children running away from the camera outside]

[Image changes to show the children in the background running towards the camera with three robots in the foreground, and then the image changes to show a young female talking to the camera]

Child 1: The CSIRO National Science Experiment is back.

[Music plays as image changes to show a young female walking a robot ‘dog’ outside]

[Image changes to show a young female talking to the camera with the robot ‘dog’ moving about in the background, and then the camera zooms in closer on the female talking to the camera]

Child 2:  This year we're building robot responders.

[Music plays as image changes to show a child playing a robot game on an iPad, and then the image changes to show two children talking and pointing at a robot]

[Image changes to show three children handling a multi-legged robot]

Child 1:  Investigate.

[Image changes to show three young females celebrating]

Collaborate.

[Image changes to show hands holding Component Cards above other Component Cards laid out on the table]

Create.

[Music plays as image changes to show a young female drawing a robot, and then the image changes to show a young female smiling while using a hand to rotate a small robot]

[Image changes to show a young male talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show the young male handling cards]

Child 3:  Curious minds building robots that help.

[Image changes to show a young female talking to the camera]

Child 2:  CSIRO robot responders.

[Music plays as images move through to show a child playing a game on an iPad, rearview of children with arms over each other’s shoulders and a robot ‘dog’ walking along, and children laughing at a robot ‘dog’]

[Image changes to show a blue screen, and text appears: CSIRO, Robot Responders, One challenge. Three missions. Multiple ways to play]

[Image changes to show a white screen with the CSIRO logo, and text appears: Australia’s National Science Agency]

Choose your mission!

When heading outdoors to complete CSIRO’s Wild Watch, keep an eye out for the species in our Wild Files to help put real-world data in the hands of our researchers at the National Research Collections Australia.

We have put the call out for wild watchers to find a range of species including orange-yellow lichen, shark egg cases, wattle, terrestrial snails, Australian Ericaceae or Epacrids for short.

Wild Trivia

  • Orange-yellow lichens have been found across Australia EXCEPT Queensland?
  • Each denomination of the new Australian bank notes features a different species of native Australian wattle.
  • A snail’s shell grows as it ages by adding more material at the opening. This means the inner most part of a snail’s spiral shell was made when the snail was at its youngest.
  • Depending on the species and water temperature, incubation inside a shark egg can take a few months to three years!

View our Wild Files to find out more

How to be a researcher

Watch our handy "how-to" participate in CSIRO Wild Watch video, and follow the below tips on contributing valuable data for Australian researchers.

Tips to being a great citizen scientist

  • Quality vs. quantity is key! Posting one very detailed observation with multiple quality images displaying varying angles is much more valuable to the iNaturalist community than 20 observations with a single low-quality image.
  • Observe wild living things: Young explorers may focus on cultivated plants and animals they can find. The iNaturalist community is interested in wild organisms such as insects or plants in nature as opposed to cultivated roses and or a pet hamsters.
[An animation image appears of a grey screen with heading text above a blue text box, and text appears: CSIRO Wild Watch, Our first national science experiment made for young explorers!]
Narrator: Join CSIRO Wild Watch, our first national science experiment made for young explorers.
[Animation image changes to show people using smart phones on a map of Australia]
Unite with a nationwide team of citizen scientists to help track Australia's incredible biodiversity.
[Animation image changes to show an adult using a smartphone between two children on the right, and a blue heading text box appears on the right, and text appears: How to participate in CSIRO Wild Watch]
Getting started is easy.
[Animation image shows a white heading text appearing below the blue heading text box, and new text appears: Adults register at- www.csiro.au/WildWatch]
Adults can register at www.csiro.au/WildWatch.
[Animation images move through to show an index finger tapping a smart phone screen, tapping through the iNaturalist app to creating an account as ticks appear, and text appears: Create Account, Search Projects, CSIRO WILD WATCH, CSIRO Wild watch]
Once registered, download the iNaturalist app, create an account and join the CSIRO Wild Watch project.
[Animation image changes to show a town map brochure unfolding]
Now you're ready to begin.
[Animation image shows pin drops appearing around the map, and a text box appears top left with dot points, and text appears: National Science Week!, -Park, -Reserve, -Bushwalk, -Beach, -Backyard, -Schoolyard]
During National Science Week, your local park, reserve, bushwalk, beach, backyard or schoolyard becomes your science lab.
[Animation image changes to show an index finger tapping a smart phone’s screen to photograph yellow wattle flowers, a shark egg, wheat heads, and then saving them to the app, and text appears: CSIRO WILD WATCH PROJECT, Save Observations]
Snap a photo of any interesting plants or animals and using the iNaturalist app save these to the CSIRO Wild Watch project as an observation.
[Animation image changes to show the hand pointing at three ”WILD FILES” document folders with a photo of snails on vegetation on the top file, and text appears: TERRESTRIAL SNAILS]
You can browse our wild files for inspiration.
[Animation image changes to people loading photos from their smart phones to the Atlas of Living Australia in a white circle above, and text appears: Atlas of Living Australia, ala.org.au, National Research Collections Australia]
Every observation is shared with the Atlas of Living Australia, our national biodiversity database, and scientists at our National Research Collections Australia who work to understand and monitor our native biodiversity.
[Animation image changes to show a grey screen with heading text above a blue text box, and text appears: CSIRO Wild Watch, Register today!]
So grab your device and join CSIRO Wild Watch, where every discovery counts.

COMPETITION - you can win!

By participating in CSIRO Wild Watch, you can win one of 20 prize packs. 

Want a limited edition, With Stem You Can t-shirt, or the opportunity to win a $500 voucher for your school?
 
All participants who submit observations to the CSIRO Wild Watch project through iNaturalist will be in the running to win a prize packs. Prize packs will be awarded to:

  • The top 10 schools or community groups who submit the most number of observations to the CSIRO Wild Watch project through the iNaturalist app, during National Science Week will be eligible to receive a $500 voucher to Modern Teaching Aid and CSIRO Publishing titles Wild Collections and AmAZed.
  • The top 10 individuals (18 years or over) who submit the most number of observations to the CSIRO Wild Watch project through the iNaturalist app, during National Science Week will be eligible to receive a CSIRO prize pack including a CSIRO With STEM You Can t-shirt and copies of CSIRO Publishing titles Wild Collections and AmAZed.

The Competition period commences at 12:00am AEST on Saturday 9 August 2025 and closes 7:00pm Monday 18 August 2025. Winners will be contacted through direct message on iNaturalist.

Supporting Australian research

By observing and recording local flora and fauna, you contribute valuable data directly to Australian researchers via the Atlas of Living Australia—our national biodiversity database, hosted by CSIRO. Each week, Australian observations uploaded to the iNaturalist app are integrated into the Atlas of Living Australia. This means your contributions go straight to the researchers who need them.

Scientists at our National Research Collections Australia team want you to look out for shark and ray eggs, the yellow/orange lichen, snails, wattle and more! Help researchers track their presence and movement—crucial information for conservation and scientific discovery.

Books to help you look! 

This group of books is inspiration for anyone who wants to connect with nature in their backyard, local park or neighbourhood.

From children’s picture books to detailed field guides, there’s a book here for everyone. Subjects cover plants and fungi, animals, marine and freshwater and popular science. Have a look and find your inspiration to take your Wild Watch exploration to the next level. 

CSIRO Wild Watch webinars

Resources for educators

More great activities for kids

CSIRO Wild Watch received grant funding through Inspiring Australia – An Australian Government Initiative.

The Australian Government supports National Science Week in a variety of ways, including through event grants. These grants help provide nationwide science engagement activities for the community.

The Inspiring Australia initiative contributes to the Australian Government's vision to engage all Australians with science.

Want to know more?

If you have a specific question about our national science experiment, please get in touch.

Contact the CSIRO Wild Watch team