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.
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Thanks for sharing, Harry! Wildlife trade is a huge problem, and I hope this challenge sparks positive change through innovative solutions.
Thank you for sharing this Harry. Do you happen to have an update on which teams won that you could share with the rest of the community, maybe in a new post if you would like!