Reef guardians in the running for ‘internet Oscar’

CITIZENS of the Great Barrier Reef now sits alongside such scientific behemoths as NASA and National Geographic as a finalist in the “Oscars of the internet”.

The conservation organisation’s ReefTracks.org platform is one of only five nominees for the world’s best science website gong in the annual Webby Awards.

The site allows people to track animals such as sharks, turtles and manta rays in real time on the Great Barrier Reef – and it has caught the attention of some of the virtual world’s greatest minds.

“Nominees like Reef Tracks are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the internet,” Webby Awards executive director Claire

Graves said.

“It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 13,000 entries we received this year.”

Winners were due to be announced at a star-studded event in New York next month – although COVID-19 lockdown measures will probably force a change in the way celebrations play out.

ReefTracks launched last year on BBC’s Blue Planet Live, allowing viewers around the world to track Midori the turtle, who was released to the wild following rehabilitation.

The platform was designed and developed by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef technologist Som Meaden.

“Growing up alongside the Reef I’ve always been passionate about the environment,” Som Meaden said.

“After years working at agencies in big cities, it’s refreshing to use my skills for something meaningful.”

Citizens CEO Andy Ridley said he was fortunate to work with such talented people.

“Projects like ReefTracks, and the upcoming Oceanpedia, have been developed with an amazing spirit of co-operation and on the smallest of budgets – and are all part of our vision of developing a 21stcentury conservation organisation,” he said.