For SMM participants working with PhotoID, genetic samples, sightings data, and/or tag data:
No researcher can cover the range over which whales operate, we need the tools to work on oceanic and global scales to conserve marine species over biologically relevant scales. Flukebook ( http://www.flukebook.org ) is the first web platform that engages both the research and citizen science aspects of cetacean conservation. Flukebook is groundbreaking because it connects everyone, including the animals, in the same social network for the first time. It builds living stories, about animals and the people who want to interact with them, but it also grows useful data streams and provides powerful tools to the researchers who study them. The Flukebook platform is first and foremost for professional researchers. It provides researchers with the advanced tools needed for scientific analysis and enables transboundary and multi-institutional collaboration without sacrificing interactivity or approachability for citizen scientists wanting to engage with the species and its conservation. In Flukebook, researchers have access to data management tools, A.I.-trained photo-matching computer vision algorithms, a global catalog of individuals, and easy connectivity to common analytical software for mark-recapture, genetic, and socio-ecological studies (MARK, WinBugs, Socprog, GeneAIEx, ARC, GoogleMaps, Genepop among others). At the research level, secured data sharing is accomplished on a peer-approval basis which allows users to access tools without the requirement of sharing data; but promotes a growing inclusiveness and respect for data rights. For citizen scientists, Flukebook enables participants to receive automatic and comprehensive profile updates on individuals they have sighted, transforming “data” into learning and encouraging repeat participation and engagement in conservation initiatives in those regions.
The half-day workshop to be hosted from 8:00am to 12:00pm on October 28th will enable participants to learn more about this growing collaborative community, the functionality of the research tools, how to upload and export their data, examine and test the automated matching algorithms, learn more about how data is secured and shared online, and the future developments of the platform.
What we are hoping to do is build a community of researchers, commercial naturalists, and public enthusiasts who are committed to these species and collaborating for marine conservation. We are looking for people like you to help us shape the future of Flukebook and develop the platform further into a tool that is practical, accessible, and useful for all levels.
We hope to see you there!
Jason Holmberg
Digital Architect and Director at WildMe (http://www.wildme.org)
Shane Gero
Flukebook user and Co-Founder