Background to #DATA4WILDLIFE 

Historically, the top three factors driving the global biodiversity extinction crisis have been habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal poaching. Over about the past decade, a new factor has propelled into the spotlight: online crime. Online wildlife crime causes species declines. The algorithmic amplification of wildlife crime via social media platforms, mobile applications and high-speed broadband access is a grave concern for nongovernmental organizations working to combat online crime. Bright Tide has partnered up with University of Maryland, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Focused Conservation to launch the #DATA4WILDLIFE Challenge. The #DATA4WILDLIFE Challenge is free to apply for and will take place on 29/30 January 2022. You can sign up to the Challenge here (deadline for applications is on 12 January 2022): https://lnkd.in/gdZGjufS. Funding is provided by National Science Foundation-funded planning grant (Division of Information & Intelligent Systems Award IIS-2039951.

The Challenge will look at 3 specific areas including:

(1) creating a benchmark dataset for wildlife crime images, text and emojis on social media platforms;

(2) developing a virtual or spatialized supply chain for specific animal or animal products and identify the places and times where virtual and physical spaces touch; and

(3) creating a wildlife crime aggregator in multiple languages as well as creating a database of aggregated media that can be used to deter online wildlife crime.

The winning teams from the challenge will be announced on 7 February 2022 and will receive a number of prizes/mentorship opportunities from innovation strategists, operations engineers and global wildlife crime leaders. 

Please do sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtLdEHWn-8SKbg6ArQzq1YcvBA7AQeWUbFuFKu5uUojX_nvg/viewform.