Integrating citizen science in animal systematics course using inaturalist platform

This study aimed to describe the use of the iNaturalist platform for integrating Citizen Science into the Animal Systematics Course. It used a qualitative descriptive research approach and involved 87 biology students at a state university in Surabaya, Indonesia, from February to June 2022. Integrating citizen science into the course was accomplished by involving students in citizen science activities in a research project built on the iNaturalist platform and the implementation was evaluated descriptively and quantitatively using statistical data from four iNaturalist components: Observers, Observations, Species, and Identifiers. The result shows that 61 students became observers, resulting in 249 observations, 121 species, and 95 IDs. As a result of the student's active participation in their research project activities, a large number of observations were made. Students with their research skills discovered and identified a wide range of animal species. This study concludes that the iNaturalist platform can be used effectively to integrate citizen science into the Animal Systematics Course. Through this activity, students can participate in local activities that have global implications.