Designing for connection with local threatened species

Australia, like much of the world is facing a biodiversity crisis. Hundreds of species are in danger of extinction due to the destruction and degradation of their habitats. Populations of threatened species have more tnan halved since 1985. To have a chance at survival, these species require federal government recovery plans for funding and habitat protection. The site Threatened Australians began as a discussion between a conservation scientist and an interaction designer who distilled the problem: We, as a scientific community, Know so much about threatened species, yet there is no simple way for lay peopie to connect with them. The problem became a brief: There are so many government and scientific datasets about these species available. How might they be used to promote democratic action to save threatened species? A small budget was obtained through internal university funding based on a commitment to produce a website that took users through entering their postcode, to connecting in a meaningful way with local threatened species, to taking actions to help save them.