Here is a fun challenge -
Try to innovate. Make the most useful project possible.
I am listing some projects that are excellent and their shortcomings too. We (I mean, who ever is interested) will attempt to make a useful (and great) innovation to use the pre-existing projects. In the end of this year we can literally vote for which project is the most worth. I have planned how that is to be done.
You mast be the one who made the project. Apart from that, I am mentioning some other project that will inspire you to get creative. Anyone can join.
Also please do not copy otherās ideas, it will not be eligible. You must submit all projectsā links as replies.
Here are some projects to inspire you to start something worth it -
1: Tracking genera/species without a name can be tricky, as we cannot id as a particular taxon and keep track. iNat recently added the āProvisional taxa pilotā, but why use that when we have traditional projects in hand?
To solve such problems, we can use traditional project as a better workaround, and I made a perfect example. This is the first submission here (which is my own), https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ecuador-s-mystery-undescribed-fulgorid-genus .
Shortcomings to this project: There is no major potential or existent shortcoming except one (or two). Firstly, if the genus and species are described then it will have to be deleted as it will be useless afterwards. But it helps us keep undescribed taxa in one place until they are described!
Secondly, it is possible that new observations are not added to the credit to the inattentiveness of the project curator (me), but as I am a regular identifier of Fulgoridae I will be able to maintain it well. Also another thing is that it is not a very common taxon and I have never seen observations of them outside Ecuador. Maintenance is no hassle, unlike the next project whose biggety shortcoming is nothing but maintenance.
2: To help (and entertain) identifiers. It is seriously a thing when you feel that there is nothing much for you to id, you get bored and scrolling through observations gives no motivation. It is also another common struggle of identifiers when they need literally one more supporting id and that just does not come. It waiting worth it???
To answer this, there is an excellent pool of observations under the project called https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pre-maverick! It is so entertaining to go there and add some ids! But it is very little known. The caption says it was based on an idea by @dianastuder, (who was by chance also supposedly my āforum best friend of the yearā
(to add some humour but seriously it not a joke, just so much by chance) and it is likely one of the coolest projects out there. It is something beyond just innovation, instead it is a great contribution to the entire community. Any one who joins the project can add observations to it.
Shortcomings to this project: Firstly, it is not much popular. In fact, I chose this topic not only to see how much we can do with project but also to promote this project. This is completely destroying the functionality of the project. One identifier adds it to this project thinking that someone will help out. However, no one is there to do this. So unfortunate.
It is also true that this project lack maintenance. I mean by maintenance by the fact that many identifiers forget to remove observations from this project once the id is turned over. This is one of the self sorting projects. The moment the id is flipped, the observation is research grade. Before that it is under" āNeeds IDā. If the project curators want then they can (and should) remove all research grade obs. from from the project as that shows the wrong id has already been mavericked.
3: A visual delight! Sometimes we just feel bored. I think those who have reached here may have their eyes paining, so what better reward exists than a show of fluorescence under UV!
It is amazing to know (and see) that there is already a project for such observations. It showcases the beauty of nature under a UV torch. See the project here - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/uv-fluorescent-organisms !
Shortcomings to this project: I do not think there is any shortcoming here, except lack of popularity which will bring not only more pre-existent observations of creature under UV under this project but also encourage more people to observe the dramatic change of colour that comes when you look with a UV torch.
Now I look forward to see what project(s) you all can make! (and yes I will also try to innovate)
