Bhubaneswar: Science is not confined to laboratories and scientists in white coats, and ordinary citizens can play a crucial role in generating data that supports scientific research and policymaking, said Anurag Mishra, IFS, DFO, Athgarh Division and an editor with eBird and iNaturalist.

Speaking at a session on ‘Citizen Science’ during the third edition of the Earth Again Conference 2026 (Punashcha Prithibi) on Sunday, Mishra said citizen-generated information can help scientists overcome one of the biggest challenges they face — the lack of adequate data.

“When we think about science, we often imagine scientists in white coats working in laboratories. But science is much more than that,” Mishra said.

He explained that advances in technology and the availability of large datasets have enabled researchers to obtain deeper and more accurate insights than may be possible through small, short-term studies.

Citizens can contribute to scientific research

Mishra said ordinary citizens can contribute to science by documenting nature, gardens and biodiversity through photographs and observations.

When people record information about plants, birds and other aspects of nature through applications such as eBird and iNaturalist, the observations can be stored in central databases. When large numbers of people contribute observations over extended periods and across geographical areas, the resulting datasets can become valuable resources for researchers.

“Scientists can access these large datasets and identify important patterns and trends,” Mishra said, adding that such findings can also support policymaking and conservation planning.

He described this process as citizen science, in which members of the public participate in collecting and documenting information that can subsequently be used for scientific research.

Large datasets can reveal new patterns

Mishra said a major challenge faced by scientists is the availability of sufficient data.

Instead of relying only on short-duration surveys, data collected over several years from a wide geographical area can help researchers identify patterns that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

“Large-scale data collected over years and from extensive areas can bring new information to light,” he said.

He stressed that the growing participation of citizens in documenting biodiversity can therefore complement the work of trained scientists and expand the volume and geographical reach of scientific observations.

The session was held at the MKCG Auditorium of Utkal University as part of the concluding programme of the third edition of Punashcha Prithibi, organised by Sambad and Ama Odisha. The session was moderated by Sanjog Sahu.