The Universiti Sains Malaysia Campus Nature Challenge: A Collaborative Citizen Science Initiative For Biodiversity Conservation And Environmental Awareness a collaborative citizen science initiative, plays a key role in raising awareness about biodiversity and ecological conservation. Led by the USM Library, in partnership with the School of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, the project engaged the university community through a 6-week "bio blitz" event. Participants documented species on USM’s main campus using the iNaturalist app, contributing to long-term ecological data collection.

The results highlighted USM’s rich biodiversity, with plant species making up 64.9% of the recorded biodiversity, followed by insects (10.4%), fungi (7.6%), birds (6.3%), and other species. The project also contributed high-quality ecological data, with 36.6% of species identifications reaching "Research Grade" status. This initiative demonstrated the complexity of the campus’s ecosystems and strengthened the community's connection to nature.

This initiative underscores USM's commitment to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of land. By involving citizen scientists in biodiversity monitoring, the university fosters public awareness of ecological issues, especially the need to protect and sustainably manage land, including forests and wild areas. Through this and similar initiatives, USM demonstrates leadership in biodiversity conservation and supports sustainable land management efforts in line with global sustainability goals.