Museum Lab: Community Science
Included with General Admission | Drop in
Site access information
WA Museum Boola Bardip is fully accessible. Call 1300 134 081 for assistance. Accessible resources and programs >
Everyone can be a scientist!
Sir David Attenborough inspires people around the world to get out and connect with nature. Come and see Western Australia’s homage to this great man, and meet the local groups who are engaging citizens and making a positive impact on our natural environments.
Discover the organisations working to protect and enhance Western Australia’s natural spaces. Through education, research, and hands‑on activities, these groups will bring the space to life with fun, interactive experiences - and show you what you can do in your own backyard.
Stall holders
Perth NRM invites visitors to explore CoastSnap, a citizen science program that helps monitor how Perth’s coastline is changing over time.
At this interactive stall, families can browse a beachcombing table filled with natural objects found along our shores and use handheld microscopes to examine shells, seaweed and other coastal finds up close. Visitors will also learn how CoastSnap stations collect repeat photos from the same location to help track erosion and other coastal changes.
One CoastSnap station is already active in Rockingham, with more being installed across Perth’s beaches in 2025. Several are expected to be operational by May.
This experience brings together discovery, play and real-world science, showing how a simple photo can contribute to protecting Perth’s coastline.
Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association: Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association (BNAA) is leading a community‑driven citizen science project on the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) as part of the 2029 Perth Bicentenary. The program brings environmental, cultural, social and economic values together to create a new model for caring for river catchments.
Recently, BNAA completed a week‑long bioblitz along the lower Mandoon Bilya with environmental organisations and local schools, gathering on‑Country knowledge and helping build a shared understanding of the river’s health.
Leschenault Catchment Council: The Leschenault Catchment Council runs a range of community‑focused citizen science programs throughout the year. These include the Annual Ringtail Tally, a seagrass restoration project in the Leschenault Estuary called Seeds for Swimmers, and ongoing monitoring of macroinvertebrates that support local shorebird populations.
Together, these activities help build a deeper understanding of the region’s ecosystems while giving the community meaningful ways to contribute to environmental care.
Invertebrates Australia: Invertebrates Australia works to protect our native bugs and highlight their vital role in healthy ecosystems. Visit thier stand to learn about projects like No Spray Spring and Bug Hunt, discover why invertebrates are so important, and pick up a colouring‑in sheet for young nature lovers.
Angela Rossen is an artist and biodiversity educator who works with scientists, communities and schools across Western Australia to help people connect with the richness of the natural world. Angela is particularly known for her biodiversity discovery work with children throughout WA. Angela is an Honorary Research Associate with UWA School of Biological Sciences and the 2025 Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award recipient for Education for Western Australia.
NatureLink Perth brings together community, researchers, government and industry to help integrate nature throughout the city. Their flagship initiative, NatureLink, creates green corridors that support wildlife movement and give people more opportunities to connect with nature.
By sharing resources and collaborating across sectors, NatureLink Perth helps unite individual efforts into a bigger vision: transforming Perth into a more connected, nature‑rich city.
The Saving Our Snake-Necked Turtle (SOSNT) is a citizen science program helping protect the southwestern snake‑necked turtle, a species at risk of decline in Western Australia. The project raises community awareness, supports local conservation efforts and builds teams of volunteer “Turtle Trackers” who monitor wetlands and protect nesting turtles and their eggs.
Hundreds of volunteers across Perth and the South West contribute by recording turtle sightings and movements through the TurtleSAT app, helping researchers map activity and develop better management plans for the species.
