to Lichenary
Distinguished
Achievement
Recognized by National Geographic
Lichenary was selected as a 2026 Distinguished Achievement Award recipient in the National Geographic Society's Slingshot Challenge.
The recognition celebrates young people using creative ideas and environmental action to better understand and protect the world around us.
View Lichenary on National GeographicWhat is Lichenary?
Lichenary is a citizen science project and a community of young people, students, and nature enthusiasts who monitor air quality — no labs needed, just a magnifying glass, curiosity, and attention.
By observing lichen species, we collect data that form a living map of air health. It’s ecology, education, and activism — all combined in one simple act: observation.
From a simple photo to a living map
Lichenary turns a simple observation into useful citizen science data. You don't need to be a scientist to take part.
Find a lichen
Look around your surroundings, find a lichen, and take a clear photograph of what you discover.
Discover what it is
Use Lichenary's AI-assisted identification or identify the lichen yourself using the manual process.
Add your observation
Submit your observation and help build a better understanding of the environment around us.
Technology meets nature
Not sure what lichen you're looking at? Lichenary uses artificial intelligence to help participants identify lichens from photographs and make contributing to citizen science easier.
You don't need to be a lichen expert to get started. Take a photo. Let AI help. Learn something new.
Discover How Lichenary AI Works
A living map
of air health
Every observation contributes to a growing picture of the environment around us. Explore some of the observations collected by the Lichenary community.
Why do we do this?
Because the air we breathe shapes our community’s health and our future.
Lichens respond to changes in the air around them, offering us a window into environmental conditions that are otherwise difficult to see.
Through Lichenary, we:
- Open young people's eyes to the science around them
- Build a global network of volunteers mapping the air
- Unite communities around environmental protection
Every observation tells a story.
One photo may seem small. But hundreds of observations can reveal patterns across communities, cities, and countries. Your observation becomes part of something bigger.
Add an ObservationLichenary in the Press
A project born in Buzău, now reaching the world.
2026 Distinguished Achievement Award Recipient
Lichenary is recognized by the National Geographic Society for using lichens as bioindicators and building a public map of air health.
Read on National GeographicTwo teenagers from Buzău enter a global environmental competition — and win
The story behind Lichenary, its founders, and the community growing around the project.
Read the articleStudents from Buzău recognized by National Geographic
How Lichenary turned lichens into a tool for understanding air pollution and brought a project from Buzău onto an international stage.
Read the articleNeed help?
New to Lichenary? Learn how our tools work and how to submit your first observation.
How does Lichenary AI work?
Understand how AI helps identify lichens from photographs.
How do I upload with AI?
A step-by-step guide to taking a photo and submitting an AI-assisted observation.
How do I upload manually?
Prefer to identify the lichen yourself? Learn how to submit a manual observation.
Our Vision
A world where anyone can become a researcher, where nature is a dialogue partner, and where air is no longer a mystery.
Change starts with a photo. With a simple observation. With you.
Nature is already speaking.
You don't need to be a scientist.
You just need curiosity.