Citizen Science and COBWEB for Learning 4Th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves
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Citizen science and COBWEB for learning 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves Lima, 16th March, 2016 Andy Rowland [email protected] • Citizen science offers a route to learning and engagement • Doing it digitally has additional advantages • The COBWEB project • Case study – Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere, Wales Citizen science - learning sustainable development A tool for increasing engagement and commitment Observing detail in the environment Understanding and appreciation Care and involvement Attitudes and values Can citizen sourced environmental data be useful for decision making? Data quality? Why do citizen science digitally? • GPS enabled, internet connected mobile devices are now ubiquitous • They are more engaging than paper for some • They are a barrier to others, but sometimes the activity gets them over that barrier • The results can be seen on a map at home • It saves the step of digitising manual data • Data can be compared to other digital data • GPS provides the exact location Citizen OBservatory WEB • Research Project: Funded under the European Commission’s Framework Programme 7 • Started November 2012 for 4 years Generic crowdsourcing infrastructure platform Surveys can be created quickly and flexibly Will be open source at end of project, so it can be developed or branded for a BR Open standards – exporting data is easier, whether to QGIS, GBIF or specialised software Citizen OBservatory WEB Data supports policy and management COBWEB is addressing data quality issues 3 pilot case study areas: 1.Validating earth observation products 2.Biological monitoring 3.Flooding Project Partners View COBWEB Portal Create your survey as an app Create your survey as an app Citizen captures data on their phone Viewing the data 13 The app itself Key features • Capture information – Images – Audio – Text – Location • High quality background maps • Saved maps for use “offline” • Custom data collection forms • Manual location correction COBWEB Biosphere Reserves Wadden See & Hallig islands Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere Gorge of Samaria Mount Olympus Themes and issues being explored Greece Germany • Education, • Education including • Mapping dog • Lotohoro and faeces left in Machynlleth plastic bags; school exchange; • Artenfinder citizen • Natura 2000 science programme reporting; • Ecotourism Discussions with other BRs • Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft, Germany (characterising lakes and rivers - education for sustainable development) • Dublin Bay, Ireland (plants for pollinators, to help create map of this ecosystem service) • Galloway and Southern Ayrshire, Scotland (water voles – biodiversity monitoring) • Urdaibai, Basque Country, Spain (validation of earth observation data – are maps made from satellite images true “on the ground”?) • 840 square kilometres • Population 26,118 Dyfi Biosphere Reserve – landscape and habitats Dyfi Biosphere Reserve – people and economy 40.7% speak Welsh as well as English • Hill farming • Tourism Co-Design 21 Co-design Feedback Loop AppApp versionversion 0.1.20.0.50.0.0.0.76 Citizen 22 Co-design with Dyfi Biosphere partners Dyfi Biosphere Education Group Learning in the Dyfi Biosphere Learning IN the Dyfi Biosphere enables learners to… Observe real life examples of human and natural physical processes of change, and how they are interrelated Undertake meaningful enquiries that explore the concept of sustainability Embrace the inspiration of the natural environment and human achievements of the Biosphere Learning for the Dyfi Biosphere Learning FOR the Dyfi Biosphere Reserve enables learners to… Observe and engage with those currently working to sustain the Biosphere, and their visions for the future Identify the values and behaviours that will contribute to a sustainable future Investigate how they can play part in contributing to a sustainable future, as creative and innovative members of their local and global community Develop skills that they can use to help shape that future Snowdonia National Park Authority Detailed mapping of Japanese Knotweed • Along river courses • 823 sq. Miles • Estimate extent for treatment • 26,000 people Royal Society for the Protection of Birds • Ynys-hir RSPB Reserve Visitor centre Education- schools, local youth groups Data collection • Salt Marsh Reversion • Pete Bog Monitoring -% coverage of key species -rushes -sedges RSPB Saltmarsh: sensors 3 Sensor locations are been used in the analysis of the Saltmarsh. One local weather station near the estuary is being harnessed (this is also used for the peat bog deployment as it is sufficiently close) Feedback • Citizens - Engaging way to learn - Education about Biosphere • Projects - Quantity of usable data - Want to continue using the app Outcomes • Building strong networks • Upskilling • Cross curricular education • Applied high quality data • Management of Biosphere • Funding • No need for manual data input • Ecological citizenship Educational applications of COBWEB • Citizen engagement • Ecotourism in protected areas • Environmental and cultural interpretation Natural environment Heritage Cultural routes • Formal education ICT, geography, science • Informal and non-formal education Visioning [email protected] .