Latest news with #UniversityofFlorida
NZ Herald
5 hours ago
- Science
- NZ Herald
Citizen scientists submitting to iNaturalist are accelerating ecology research, study suggests
More than 1400 such articles were published in 2022 — 10 times as many as just five years earlier and a publication rate of nearly four studies per day. The data has helped scientists identify new species, track the spread of invasive organisms, pinpoint critical habitats, predict the effects of climate change and explore animal behaviour, among other things. A butterfly documented by Brittany Mason. Thousands of scientific papers have used data collected by users of the platform iNaturalist, according to new research. Photo / Brittany Mason via the New York Times 'INaturalist is really pervasive throughout the biodiversity research,' said Corey Callaghan, an ecologist at the University of Florida and an author of the paper, which was published in BioScience yesterday. 'It is fundamentally shaping the way that scientists think about research and think about designing studies and think about answering questions about biodiversity.' INaturalist users submit photos or audio recordings of the plants and animals they observe, along with the date, time and location. Anyone in the iNaturalist community can suggest an identification for the organism in the observation. If two-thirds of these suggestions agree, and the submission passes the platform's data quality review, the observation is classified as 'research grade', and sent to a global biodiversity database available to scientists. The emergence of the platform has coincided with the rise of smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras and audio recorders. The iNaturalist data set has grown exponentially in recent years. As of 2024, it contained more than 200 million observations collected by 3.3 million users. 'We're seeing this massive growth in data, and it's allowing us to study things globally and across a lot of taxonomic groups that would be challenging with small professional studies,' said Brittany Mason, a data management analyst at the University of Florida and an author of the study. An undated photo provided by Brittany Mason, a data management analyst at the University of Florida, shows a smartphone with photos of snakes she documented. Photo / Brittany Mason via the New York Times Through to May 2024, the researchers had identified 5250 papers that used iNaturalist data. The papers encompassed observations on more than 600 plant, animal and fungal families observed in 128 countries. In many published papers, scientists drawing upon iNaturalist observations have analysed basic data on the presence and absence of particular species: Where and when had certain plants and animals been observed? But even this seemingly simple data can shed light on many different processes and phenomena. In a 2023 paper, for instance, researchers used iNaturalist data to determine that the geographic range of the jaguarundi, a Latin American wildcat, no longer matched the map drawn up by experts. The cats seemed to have retreated from some former territory in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The same sort of basic observational data has been used to detect the spread of invasive shrubs in New York and New Jersey, document how Australian megafires have influenced biodiversity, and predict how climate change might affect critically endangered gibbons. Over the past few years, an increasing share of papers have gone beyond basic presence and absence data to analyse the content of user-submitted photos. 'The iNaturalist imagery is a really rich data source,' Mason said. 'And it seems like researchers are starting to pick up on this.' Machine learning is also making it more feasible for scientists to analyse large image collections. Researchers have used iNaturalist images to analyse colour variations in butterflies and snakes, compare the flower preferences of native and non-native bees and document the diets of birds in the Andes. Still, the authors stress, data from iNaturalist, which has a variety of limitations, will never be a substitute for expert observations and professionally trained field biologists. Data from the platform can complement and accelerate the research that trained scientists are doing, they said. And Callaghan wants iNaturalist's users to know that the time and effort they're putting in is paying dividends. 'Keep doing what you're doing,' he said, 'and who knows where the future is going to take us with these data.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Written by: Emily Anthes Photographs by: Frederick Kundert, Brittany Mason ©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
The Star
17 hours ago
- Science
- The Star
Citizen scientists are accelerating ecology research, study suggests
In spring 2019, a nature photographer hiking in the mountains of northern China snapped an image of an unusual insect: a fly that appeared to be disguised as a bumblebee, down to its fuzzy black-and-yellow stripes. The photographer uploaded the image to iNaturalist, a citizen science platform, where it attracted the attention of an entomologist. The following year, the entomologist published a paper describing the bumblebee mimic as a new species, now known as the mountain ghost stiletto fly. It's a testament to the power of citizen science – and it's not an isolated occurrence, according to a new study, which documents how scientists are harnessing iNaturalist data. Since iNaturalist was founded in 2008, observations submitted to the platform have been incorporated into more than 5,000 peer-reviewed papers, with references exploding in recent years, the scientists found. More than 1,400 such articles were published in 2022 – 10 times as many as just five years earlier and a publication rate of nearly four studies per day. The data has helped scientists identify new species, track the spread of invasive organisms, pinpoint critical habitats, predict the effects of climate change and explore animal behaviour, among other things. 'INaturalist is really pervasive throughout the biodiversity research,' said Corey Callaghan, an ecologist at the University of Florida and an author of the paper, which was published in BioScience on Monday. 'It is fundamentally shaping the way that scientists think about research and think about designing studies and think about answering questions about biodiversity.' A butterfly Mason documented. Thousands of scientific papers have used data collected by users of the platform iNaturalist, according to new research. — Brittany Mason via The New York Times INaturalist users submit photos or audio recordings of the plants and animals they observe, along with the date, time and location. Anyone in the iNaturalist community can suggest an identification for the organism in the observation. If two-thirds of these suggestions agree, and the submission passes the platform's data quality review, the observation is classified as 'research grade', and sent to a global biodiversity database available to scientists. The emergence of the platform has coincided with the rise of smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras and audio recorders. The iNaturalist data set has grown exponentially in recent years. As of 2024, it contained more than 200 million observations collected by 3.3 million users. 'We're seeing this massive growth in data, and it's allowing us to study things globally and across a lot of taxonomic groups that would be challenging with small professional studies,' said Brittany Mason, a data management analyst at the University of Florida and an author of the study. Through May 2024, the researchers had identified 5,250 papers that used iNaturalist data. The papers encompassed observations on more than 600 plant, animal and fungal families observed in 128 countries. A smartphone with photos of snakes Mason documented. Thousands of scientific papers have used data collected by users of the platform iNaturalist, according to new research. — Brittany Mason via The New York Times In many published papers, scientists drawing upon iNaturalist observations have analysed basic data on the presence and absence of particular species: Where and when had certain plants and animals been observed? But even this seemingly simple data can shed light on many different processes and phenomena. In a 2023 paper, for instance, researchers used iNaturalist data to determine that the geographic range of the jaguarundi, a Latin American wildcat, no longer matched the map drawn up by experts. The cats seemed to have retreated from some former territory in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The same sort of basic observational data has been used to detect the spread of invasive shrubs in New York and New Jersey, document how Australian megafires have influenced biodiversity and predict how climate change might affect critically endangered gibbons. Over the past few years, an increasing share of papers have gone beyond basic presence and absence data to analyse the content of user-submitted photos. 'The iNaturalist imagery is a really rich data source,' Mason said. 'And it seems like researchers are starting to pick up on this.' (Machine learning is also making it more feasible for scientists to analyse large image collections.) Researchers have used iNaturalist images to analyse colour variations in butterflies and snakes, compare the flower preferences of native and nonnative bees and document the diets of birds in the Andes. Still, the authors stress, data from iNaturalist, which has a variety of limitations, will never be a substitute for expert observations and professionally trained field biologists. Data from the platform can complement and accelerate the research that trained scientists are doing, they said. And Callaghan wants iNaturalist's users to know that the time and effort they're putting in is paying dividends. 'Keep doing what you're doing,' he said, 'and who knows where the future is going to take us with these data.' – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Medscape
18 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Refine Your Application as Residency Deadline Approaches
The deadline for applying to residency programs is approaching, and as you prepare to apply to your chosen programs, here are some strategies to streamline the process while you get your plans and materials in order. Ensure Your Residency Portfolio Is Ready Consider these tips to keep you on track and organized. Start early and get organized. Whether your specialty uses Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) or another application platform, timelines with all key dates for the season are out. Keep this information handy and set alerts so you stay on track, recommended Meredith C. Thompson, MD, MAEd, associate professor and interim vice chair of Education, and interim assistant dean of student affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida Health/Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. The ERAS system begins accepting applications on September 3. Do your research. 'Formulate a system to compare and keep track of all the programs you're interested in. This includes any program characteristics that are important to you and your perceived competitiveness for the program. Your advisor can help with that, as can reputable data sources like Texas Star, AAMC [Association of American Medical Colleges] residency explorer or other specialty organization advising resources,' Thompson said. Another tip: Many programs also maintain social media presence and host virtual meet and greets on these platforms for applicants. Concentrate on recommendations. Ask for letters of recommendation at least 1 month in advance. 'Your goal is to have all application elements submitted by the time the platform opens to programs for viewing,' advised Thompson. Ensuring all items are received on time is key to maximizing your chances of obtaining interviews, she said. Meredith C. Thompson, MD, MAEd Assemble your team. Applying to residency is not a solo endeavor, so Thompson explained it's in your best interest to build a team to support you during the process. 'Key persons to have in your corner include a specialty specific advisor, editor, and interview preparer,' she said. Check your medical school's resources as many institutions provide students with access to a specialty specific advisor that can provide evidenced based advice personalized to your unique situation during the application process. If this is not available, Thompson recommended connecting to your student affairs dean who typically can help you with this information or guide you to appropriate data sources to help make these decisions. Lean on a support team. Complete one or more practice interviews with someone familiar with the interview format for your chosen specialty to become more comfortable, she suggested. 'Your support team is key in ensuring you are putting your best foot forward during the application and interview process,' Thompson said. Proofread your materials. Make sure all sections are completed and that your information is free from typos, said Mitchell Goldman, MD, senior associate dean for graduate medical education, professor of medicine, and designated institutional official at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Missouri. 'You want to impress anyone who reads your application and leave an impression of professionalism,' Goldman stated. 'Recommend having an experienced educator review your personal statement before submission to identify opportunities for improvement.' Be honest and genuine in your application. Goldman said to list hobbies, interests, and volunteer experiences that you could discuss in detail if asked about them during an interview. Be realistic in the scope. If you are applying to highly competitive specialties, consider a back-up plan and apply to acceptable programs or specialties, Goldman said. 'You want to be realistic about the programs you apply to and have a good chance for getting an interview at a number of programs,' he said. Be proactive. Reach out early and often for guidance from trusted sources. They may have prudent advice to share. In addition, be sure to follow-up. If your dream program hasn't extended an interview, consider sending an email to the program director and coordinator. 'Send only one (follow-up) email to communicate genuine interest,' Thompson said. 'Application season is not the time to take a wait and see approach.' How do you use your medical school's resources to help with the process? Your medical school's student affairs office is a wealth of information for your residency-application process. They can provide guidance on evidence-based resources to inform your decision making. Also, your medical school may have a career advising program that can identify local specialty specific advisors to give personalized guidance. 'In addition to this, they can be a resource to review personal statements, provide mock practice interviews, and assess your total application for your competitiveness for different programs,' Thompson said. Finally, medical school alumni programs can also be a resource for these types of services. What do these experts say about the rewards of residency? Residency allows you to focus on your unique interests and talents. 'This is rewarding as it allows you to enhance your clinical skills to more meaningfully contribute to patient care in a particular niche as well as develop professionally under the guidance of experts and a network of physicians with similar career goals,' said Thompson. 'Moreover, you gain a cadre of coresidents that share the journey with you that you can learn from and lean on for support.' Your residency is also a time where you can be immersed in your area of interest, be educated by those with extensive expertise and teaching skills and a time of rapid growth in your personal and professional life, said Goldman. 'Residency experiences are some of the most rewarding experiences of a physician's life,' he said. 'It is also a time to have fun being with individuals with shared interest. You can make life-long friends, learn about yourself and what you value most moving forward.'
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Science
- Boston Globe
Citizen scientists are accelerating ecology research, study says
It's a testament to the power of citizen science -- and it's not an isolated occurrence, according to a new study, which documents how scientists are harnessing iNaturalist data. Since iNaturalist was founded in 2008, observations submitted to the platform have been incorporated into more than 5,000 peer-reviewed papers, with references exploding in recent years, the scientists found. More than 1,400 such articles were published in 2022 -- 10 times as many as just five years earlier and a publication rate of nearly four studies per day. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A photo provided by Brittany Mason, a data management analyst at the University of Florida, shows a butterfly she documented. BRITTANY MASON/NYT Advertisement The data has helped scientists identify new species, track the spread of invasive organisms, pinpoint critical habitats, predict the effects of climate change and explore animal behavior, among other things. 'INaturalist is really pervasive throughout the biodiversity research,' said Corey Callaghan, an ecologist at the University of Florida and an author of the paper, which was published in BioScience on Monday. 'It is fundamentally shaping the way that scientists think about research and think about designing studies and think about answering questions about biodiversity.' INaturalist users submit photos or audio recordings of the plants and animals they observe, along with the date, time and location. Anyone in the iNaturalist community can suggest an identification for the organism in the observation. If two-thirds of these suggestions agree, and the submission passes the platform's data quality review, the observation is classified as 'research grade,' and sent to a global biodiversity database available to scientists. Advertisement The emergence of the platform has coincided with the rise of smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras and audio recorders. The iNaturalist data set has grown exponentially in recent years. As of 2024, it contained more than 200 million observations collected by 3.3 million users. 'We're seeing this massive growth in data, and it's allowing us to study things globally and across a lot of taxonomic groups that would be challenging with small professional studies,' said Brittany Mason, a data management analyst at the University of Florida and an author of the study. A photo provided by Brittany Mason shows a smartphone with photos of snakes she documented. BRITTANY MASON/NYT Through May 2024, the researchers had identified 5,250 papers that used iNaturalist data. The papers encompassed observations on more than 600 plant, animal and fungal families observed in 128 countries. In many published papers, scientists drawing upon iNaturalist observations have analyzed basic data on the presence and absence of particular species: Where and when had certain plants and animals been observed? But even this seemingly simple data can shed light on many different processes and phenomena. In a 2023 paper, for instance, researchers used iNaturalist data to determine that the geographic range of the jaguarundi, a Latin American wildcat, no longer matched the map drawn up by experts. The cats seemed to have retreated from some former territory in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The same sort of basic observational data has been used to detect the spread of invasive shrubs in New York and New Jersey, document how Australian megafires have influenced biodiversity and predict how climate change might affect critically endangered gibbons. Advertisement Over the past few years, an increasing share of papers have gone beyond basic presence and absence data to analyze the content of user-submitted photos. 'The iNaturalist imagery is a really rich data source,' Mason said. 'And it seems like researchers are starting to pick up on this.' (Machine learning is also making it more feasible for scientists to analyze large image collections.) Researchers have used iNaturalist images to analyze color variations in butterflies and snakes, compare the flower preferences of native and nonnative bees and document the diets of birds in the Andes. Still, the authors stress, data from iNaturalist, which has a variety of limitations, will never be a substitute for expert observations and professionally trained field biologists. Data from the platform can complement and accelerate the research that trained scientists are doing, they said. And Callaghan wants iNaturalist's users to know that the time and effort they're putting in is paying dividends. 'Keep doing what you're doing,' he said, 'and who knows where the future is going to take us with these data.' This article originally appeared in
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
College World Series home run record-holder, former Gator Ty Evans retires from baseball
A storied baseball career came to an end for former Florida Gators outfielder Ty Evans. On Saturday, the 22-year-old from Winter Haven, Florida, decided it was time to explore other avenues in life, announcing his decision to hang up the cleats on his social media account. Having used up his collegiate eligibility while going unselected in the most recent draft, the young man finally reached the end of his road. "Gator Nation, thank you for the four most amazing years of my life. I spent my childhood dreaming of playing Division I baseball, and being able to play at the University of Florida has made that dream come true," Evans' social media post begins. "Being able to wear the orange and blue is something that I will cherish forever. The support that I have gotten from all of you over my time here has been a true blessing. I wouldn't trade any of these moments for the world." He continues, "To the staff, I can't thank you all enough for everything that y'all have done for me. You guys helped me not only become a better baseball player, but also a better man. Through the ups and downs, y'all stuck with me through it all, and I am forever grateful for that. "To my teammates, it has been a blessing to play with you all over the last four years. I couldn't imagine going through the grind with any other group of guys. I can't thank y'all enough for all of the amazing memories and for the life-long friendships that were made. "With that being said, I have decided to move on from my playing career. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have started and finished my career at the University of Florida. Words can't express what this place has meant to my family and me. I can truly say that I gave everything I had to this program and am leaving with no regrets. It's been one hell of a ride." Ty Evans' accomplishments at Florida Prior to his arrival in Gainesville, Evans was drafted out of Lakeland Christian School by the Atlanta Braves in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft. His decision to enroll in college rather than starting his professional career in the minor leagues proved to be fortuitous for the Gators. Evans primarily played right field, batting .270 with 31 home runs and 128 RBIs over the course of his four-year career, which stretched across 174 total appearances. He played in 49 games during his sophomore campaign and hit a record five home runs while making the Men's College World Series All-Tournament Team at the 2023 CWS, which foreshadowed his breakout in 2024. For his junior season, Evans once again appeared in 49 matchups, batting a career-high .316 while also slashing a .406 on-base percentage and a .580 slugging percentage, adding up to a robust .987 OPS. He tallied 61 hits, 13 home runs, 10 doubles, 44 runs scored and 43 runs batted in. Unfortunately, an arm injury in the 2024 MCWS ended his breakout effort and may have contributed to his senior decline. In 2025, Evans played in 41 games but saw his slash line regress to .263/.322/.451, though he did set his career high in doubles with 11. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
