Spotting spider monkeys for Science Week

British Science Week 2020 runs from 6th to 15th March this year. Though we celebrated a love of Science earlier in the school year through our STEM week in Autumn, I wanted to share a fantastic opportunity to take part in some real-life scientific research which you can do at home.

Spotting Spider Monkeys is a collaboration between the Astro-Ecology department at Liverpool John Moores University as well as Mexico-based ConMonoMaya A.C. and Universidad Veracruzana to deliver a citizen science project based on drones, monkeys and sustainability.

The project is calling on members of the public to tag footage of endangered and vulnerable spider monkeys in Central America, which has been captured using drone-mounted thermal-infrared cameras.

It's a fantastic challenge to finding a spider monkey in the video clips and learn about the amazing role these primates play in the vital forest habitats of Mexico.

I've already had a go this afternoon and found at least 20 spider monkeys!

So please take part by clicking here. Even just 10 minutes taking part at home can be a huge help to the conservation of these monkeys and you will be playing your part in a big piece of scientific research.