“Now I’m always looking for that butterfly”: How AI-driven species identification apps change users’ experiences of nature

Join us for a fascinating presentation by Dr. Sonia H. Stephens on how AI-powered species identification apps like Merlin and iNaturalist are reshaping the ways people experience nature.

🌿 “Now I’m always looking for that butterfly”: How AI-driven species identification apps change users’ experiences of nature

📅 Date: April 28, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:10-11:10 AM
📍 Location: MLG 203 & Hybrid (link sent with registration)
📝 Register on Dubnet
🌐 This event is open to all on and off campus!

From sharpening identification skills to influencing mindfulness outdoors, these apps can both enhance and complicate how we connect with the natural world. Dr. Stephens will share insights from her own field experiences as well as interviews with users across the globe.
🔍 What you’ll learn:
• How AI-driven tools shape our attention and behavior in nature
• Why these apps work better for some species and regions than others
• Ways technology can both deepen and distract from our nature experiences
• What this means for conservation, citizen science, and future design
🎤 About the speaker:
Dr. Stephens is an associate professor of technical communication at the University of Central Florida. Her research explores how visual and interactive media support scientific understanding, with current work focused on species ID apps and their impacts.
This talk is part of the Minor in Innovation & Design Career Series at the University of Washington Tacoma. To lean more, please visit https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/iige/minor-innovation-and-design.

Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement | View More Events

Contact the organizers