Kremser scorpion

Participatory exploration of the "Kremser scorpion” (Euscorpius tergestinus) with school students

"Triestino scorpion" (Euscorpius tergestinus - still listed as E. carpathicus in the Red List of NÖ), which are threatened with extinction in Lower Austria, exists as an archaeozoon in Krems. This population is an isolated north-eastern outpost of the distribution area. Since 2019, sightings of these animals have been collected together with students of the BRG Krems Ringstraße 33, a UNESCO school, with the participation of the population. The students' questions to the population not only lead to reports of findings, but also to many stories that are linked to the encounters with the animals. The participatory approach not only collects data on the distribution of the animals, but also sketches a picture of people's attitudes towards them.

The first results have already been published: The good news: it still exists, the "Kremser Scorpion"! A population exists in a small area in the city. The research results have been published online in the journal "Biodiversity and Conservation Biology in Eastern Austria (BCBEA)". As throughout the project, the project team shared the work and all team members contributed to the article. This article is an example of how citizen science with lay people and closely participatory with motivated students can create local knowledge around a conservation object. In the course of the project, further questions have emerged that will continue to occupy a new generation of pupils in possible follow-up projects.

In this respect, we are still grateful for ongoing sightings, reports and stories!

Citizen Science Seminar

In 2022, poject coordinator Martin Scheuch held a lecture about the Kremser scorpion as part of the lecture series "Citizen Science Seminar" at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU): "The Scorpion of Krems - Success with School & Citizen Science" (in German). At the end of this page you can watch the video recording of the lecture.  

Project partners