Passport2Recovery Wins 2025 Eureka Prize for Citizen Science Innovation on Kangaroo Island
The Passport2Recovery initiative, led by Professor Karen Burke Da Silva, has received the 2025 Department of Industry, Science and Resources Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science. This project integrates twelve distinct research programs through a unified digital platform to monitor ecological restoration on Kangaroo Island following the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires. It engages tourists and local participants in data collection, with over 5,000 visitors from 47 countries contributing observations on topics ranging from koala movements to marine reef health. The collaborative effort provides real-time insights into post-fire recovery, informing adaptive management strategies. The award recognizes the project's success in combining scientific research with community engagement to support environmental conservation.
Key facts
- Passport2Recovery won the 2025 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science.
- The project is led by Professor Karen Burke Da Silva.
- It consolidates 12 research programs monitoring Kangaroo Island's recovery from the 2019-2020 bushfires.
- Over 5,000 tourists from 47 countries have participated in its citizen science activities.
- The initiative uses a centralized website and app to collect and analyze ecological data.
Entities
Institutions
- Passport2Recovery
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Australian Museum
Locations
- Kangaroo Island
- Australia