Nature Through the Screen: How digital archives of biodiversity shape our understanding and experience of nature

Abstract

In ‘Nature Through the Screen’ it is analysed how digital archives of bird biodiversity shape our understanding and experience of nature. This is done through a case study of waarneming.nl, a collaborative digital archive where anyone can upload observations of nature. The analysis is a combination of a theoretical exploration with statistical data analysis of the content of waarneming.nl, in line with cultural analytics. It is concluded that waarneming.nl is an archive of biodiversity information that is shaped by value judgements about species and places. In doing so, this digital archive plays a role in both our current experience of nature, the nature that will be remembered, and what actions are taken to protect nature.