International Biodiversity Championship

Calling all Ecologists, Naturalists, Biodiversity Scientists, and Observers!

Just how many organisms do you think you can find?

The 2021 International Biodiversity Championship is a global event that will be conducted during the 2021 ESA Annual Meeting, August 2-6, 2021, under the auspices of the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America. Individuals and teams from around the world will compete in this worldwide BioBlitz for the right to call themselves International Biodiversity Champion (and to win things like ESA memberships and gear)!

Learn more about the event.

Observations can be dated from 12:01 Midnight on August 2 (EDT) until the beginning of the Natural History Section’s mixer, schedule to be determined. Observations must be entered into iNaturalist, and registered as either “Research Grade” or “Needs ID.” “Casual” observations will not be included in team totals. To this end, inclusion of supporting evidence (usually a photo or sound recording) will be very helpful. The award ceremony will be at the Natural History Section’s mixer during the meeting. Final details will be shared prior to the event kickoff.

How to Participate

You can recruit a team. Teams will consist of 2-5 individuals with individual iNaturalist registrations. If you go this route, register your team on the form below.

You can also opt to be assigned to a team. If you go this route, shortly before the competition begins, we will inform you of the team you’ve been joined to. Register as an individual on the form below. You may also choose to compete individually without a team, which is fine — we’ll also award an individual champion!

2021 International Biodiversity Championship

Are you registering yourself or a team?

I am registering a team

I am registering myself

Your email address:

Name of your team:

Your iNaturalist ID

Team affiliation (if any):

Corresponding email address (best person for us to contact):

iNaturalist account names (must exist prior to registration) to be affiliated with this team; please include all 2-5 individuals, separated by a line break:

If your team has fewer than 5 members, are you willing to have individual registrants joined to it?

Yes

Your city and country:

Your particular scientific specialty:

Your occupation (current or preferred):

How do you prefer to compete?

Please try to match me with people in my geographic region

Please try to match me with people whose scientific and professional interests align with mine

Please assign me to a team randomly

I would like to compete individually

What Makes a Great Team?

Geographic diversity: Just think of how many macroscopic species you can document when your team covers different biomes all around the world.
Human diversity: Reach out to and include people of other ethnicities, nationalities, genders and even occupations. We want everybody to participate!
Diversity of expertise: Scientists and enthusiasts all have their strengths — build a well-rounded team by including people with diverse specialties.