Presentation on Nature Around the Corner project, given during MuseumNext conference, May 14 2013, Beurs van Berlage (Amsterdam, Netherlands). This Dutch project aims for children in the age of 8 to 12 and their facilitators to discover and learn about the animals they encounter in their daily lives (i.e. around their home). It's a collaboration between Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the public broadcaster NTR (Het Klokhuis) and the Dutch bureau of the European Invertebrate Survey. See also http://www.dierenzoeker.nl (Animal Tracker, the main product of this project).

1. Challenging children
to explore nature
around the corner
Sander Pieterse
@zzherc
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
www.naturalis.nl
Amsterdam, NL / May 14, 2013

2. Zebra spider Salticus scenicus. Photo: Ab H. Baas (www.nederlandsesoorten.nl)
Do you know your neighbours?

3. Joan as Surprised Child
Photo: Milo Vermeulen (www.milov.nl)

4. Naturalis Biodiversity Center
“To describe, understand and explain biodiversity,
for the wellbeing of mankind and the sustainability
of earth’s nature.”

5. Our natural history collection

6. Partners: Het Klokhuis (NTR)

7. Partners: add entomologists

8. Amsterdam park. Photo: jiruan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jiruan/4546672089/; shared under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
Nature around the corner
• Children age 8-12 + facilitators
• Identify animals in homes, backyards, city parks,
schoolyards, urban open space (gateway)

9. Photos: left - Lexie Flickinger (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56155476@N08/6659976191); right - Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
The gap (between youth and nature)

10. Children’s curiosity

11. Primary schools
Photo: Waag Society (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waagsociety/8567735581/ shared under CC BY 2.0).

12. The Dutch government
• Support for nature policies
• Youth = priority
• Modern, free, scalable, broadl
y applicable products
• Funding

13. Nature / wildlife organisations

14. Credits: ANWB, OVB, Tringa Paintings, De Vlinderstichting.
Animal ID the paper way

15. Our product: Animal Tracker
URL (desktop & mobile site):
http://www.dierenzoeker.nl

16. The content

17. Animal Tracker on television

18. Television and our web visits

19. Animal Tracker & primary schools
Photo: Waag Society (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waagsociety/8567735581/ shared under CC BY 2.0).
“ What does a bird’s bill shape tell you about its diet?

20. Meanwhile, in the museum…

21. Meanwhile, in the museum…

22. Q&A day Naturalis & Het Klokhuis

23. Q&A day Naturalis & Het Klokhuis

24. Q&A day Naturalis & Het Klokhuis

25. Next: curating your neighbourhood
A field guide to my
backyard animals

26. Next: backyard citizen science

27. Back to Joan and The Birds…
Photo: Milo Vermeulen (www.milov.nl)

28. Back to Joan and The Birds…
Photo: Milo Vermeulen (www.milov.nl)

29. Back to Joan and The Birds…
Photo: Milo Vermeulen (www.milov.nl)

30. Back to Joan and The Birds…
Photo: Milo Vermeulen (www.milov.nl)

31. Back to Joan and The Birds…
Photo: Milo Vermeulen (www.milov.nl)

32. Thanks. (And what’s
around your corner?)
Sander Pieterse
@zzherc
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
www.naturalis.nl
Amsterdam, NL / May 14, 2013