Love nature? Learn how your photos can help real science

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The iNaturalist workshop on August 3 will show you how to turn everyday wildlife photos into valuable data that helps scientists understand and protect nature.

DUBAI: Ever spotted an interesting bird, butterfly or plant and wondered what it was? A free online iNaturalist workshop is giving nature lovers the chance to learn how simple photos can help real scientific research.

Called “Snap, Share, Discover: Citizen Science in Action,” the one-hour session is part of the Leaders of Change programme by Emirates Nature-WWF. It introduces participants to iNaturalist, a free app that lets anyone record wildlife sightings and share them with a global community of nature enthusiasts and researchers.

The session is perfect for beginners and anyone curious about the wildlife around them. You’ll learn how to take useful nature photos, upload observations to the app and understand what makes an observation reach “Research Grade”, meaning it can be used by researchers.

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Participants will also be encouraged to kick off their own summer nature challenge by spotting and recording plants, birds, insects and other wildlife wherever they are. Whether you’re exploring a park, walking around your neighbourhood or relaxing in your garden, every observation can add to a growing picture of local biodiversity.

The iNaturalist workshop takes place online via Zoom on Monday, August 3, 2026, from 5pm to 6pm. It’s open to anyone who wants to learn more about nature and discover how small actions can make a real difference.

If you’ve ever wanted to get closer to nature without needing any special equipment or experience, this is an easy place to start. All you need is a phone, your curiosity and a willingness to look a little closer at the world around you.

Click here to register.

Babar Siddiqui is the Features Editor at TheBrewNews.com, where he covers stories spanning the environment, culture, and technology. A naturally curious storyteller with an adventurous spirit, he is passionate about exploring ideas that shape the world around us. Beyond the newsroom, Babar finds inspiration in nature, embracing its quiet moments as a source of reflection and creativity.
Connect with him to follow his latest work and insights.

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