This year marks the fourth year that the University Libraries have sponsored the City Nature Challenge in western Massachusetts. Melanie Radik, librarian in the Science and Engineering Library, spearheaded organization efforts with an information guide and workshops. Co-organizer Lynn Harper is a conservation planner, retired from the MassWildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered
Species Program. The counties participating were Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire. The global event calls on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and educational backgrounds to observe and submit photographic or audio evidence of wild plants, animals, and fungi using the free mobile app, iNaturalist, from April 28 through May 1. Identification of photographed species is crowdsourced from May 2-7, with results announced on May 8.
