About Ferox australis

Our Organisation

From the team who helped create Mozzie Monitors, Activating Australians for Citizen Science, and now the Great Southern BioBlitz, we present, Ferox australis.

Ferox australis, Latin for Wild of the South, is an Australian based not-for-profit organisation aimed at engaging citizens in science globally.

The ethos of our organisation is to increase public environmental education through the use of citizen science-related tools and initiatives.

The objectives of our organisation are to:

Host, promote, and collaborate in ecologically focused events to engage local, national and international communities in citizen science activities.
Work collaboratively with governments, council, and other environmentally focused groups in engaging the public in citizen science.
Deliver environmentally-focused citizen science educational programs and workshops to the public.
Connect individuals and communities in citizen science-related discussions and initiatives.
Facilitate the collection, research, analysis and dissemination of scientific data with the public for environmentally focused projects.
Promote discussion, awareness, and participation in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to biodiversity.

Our Mission

Living in a world threatened by human activity, climate action, and environmental conservation is more important than ever, as targeted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We believe that spreading awareness amongst the community is the first step in protecting our environment towards this goal.

We aim to do this by engaging citizens in science, increasing environmental education, and sharing in the unique biodiversity that can be found all around us.

Our Team

Stephen Fricker

Co-Founder

A biologist with a long history in vector biology, Stephen is a prominent citizen science enabler with a passion for promoting biodiversity awareness, and for improving public health through local and international community collaborations.

Stephen is also currently the president and public officer of Ferox austrlis' committee.

Seamus Doherty

Co-Founder

Currently undertaking his PhD in environmental research, Seamus is a biologist, and seasoned citizen science leader. With a passion for nature conservation, Seamus has a plethora of experience engaging and educating citizens in science, both locally and internationally.

Seamus is also currently the secretary and first-vice president of Ferox austrlis' committee.

Larissa Sousa

Co-Founder

A PhD candidate at the University of South Australia, Larissa is a biologist and science teacher from Brazil, with a large passion for education and public health advocacy. Larissa also has a Masters degree from the Sao Paulo State University, with her current research focusing on citizen science mosquito surveillance to enhance public health literacy and education outcomes.

Larissa is also the treasurer and second-vice president of Ferox australis' committee.

Our Committee

Dr. Nicole Miller

General committee member

Nicole is a PhD candidate researching nature-based play and learning in primary schools and an online course facilitator in Public Health at UniSA Online. She has a strong interest in the connections between humans and nature.

'Possum' Pete Crowcroft

General committee member

Studied possum ecology during his Biology Honours year which earned him the nickname. He now works full time as an environmental educator on the Great Ocean Road, and is completing a doctorate in Education, looking at science communication and place connection through storytelling.

Michelle Neil

General committee member

Analytical chemist by day, keen citizen scientist and science communicator by night, Michelle enjoys engaging people from all walks of life in the discovery of science via social media.