Julia Brink, Public & Science, Sweden
Citizen Science to help the environment
Plastic pollution in nature is one of today’s major global environmental problems. The production, use and waste management of plastic products leads to environmental impacts affecting humans, plants and animals. To inform, engage and empower people regarding this challenge, VA (Public & Science) coordinates the Plastic Experiment as one part of the science festival European Researchers’ Night.Citizens from across Sweden are involved in collecting and analysing plastic waste in nature. The Experiment is divided into a collection part for everyone and a voluntary analysis part for senior pupils. The participants select one of six types of natural environment and collect the plastic litter found in a 100-meter-long area. The litter is then weighed and sorted into different categories of plastic. The results are submitted using an app. In the Plastic Experiment they also learn about the environment and why we need to keep it clean, at the same time as actually picking up litter.
David Gruber, Museum of Nature South Tyrol, Italy
Nachtlichtbühne – we count lights because the night matters
Light pollution is the superposition of natural light by artificial light and the resulting artificial brightening of the night. This particular type of pollution not only affects astronomers, but also has many negative impacts on humans, flora and fauna.
In September and October 2021 the “Museum of Nature South Tyrol” and the “Planetarium South Tyrol” coordinated a local measurement campaign within the international Citizen Science project “Nachtlicht BüHNE”. The goal of this project is to collect data on artificial light sources on the ground using a smartphone application and compare these data to satellite data which show a worldwide increase in artificial lightning.
In my presentation, I will talk about the challenges and experiences made before, during, and after the measurement campaign with local citizen scientists in Bolzano
Mar Escarrabill, Science for Change, Spain
HOOP Trainers: Shaping the circular bioeconomy through play and co-creation
Advancement towards circularity needs a wide range of interconnected expertises working together. Enter Citizen Science (CS): the involvement of citizens in research through multiple roles. The CS gamified intervention “HOOP trainers” -designed within the circular bioeconomy EU project HOOP- aims to introduce key scientific concepts and optimise the separate collection of the organic fraction in 8 cities through a bottom-up approach.
The web-based game (co-designed and adapted for each HOOP city) is based on an avatar’s training with a mission: convert organic waste into useful products. User’s decisions along the game will be analysed to better understand the perception of biowaste separation, the social acceptance of bioproducts, and the citizen’s needs and recommendations to build a more circular city. In parallel, participants are able to discuss offline the results obtained in the Biowaste Clubs, an open platform to co-create circular strategies among quadruple helix stakeholders.
Hélène Doerflinger, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
“Made the same way” podcast series: When young artists dialogue with scientists and sing their thoughts
We are all different, but we all start as fertilised eggs – we’re made the same way. Human developmental biology is an emotive area – miscarriage, fertility, abortion and use of human embryos in research – and scientists are often worried about engaging with the public and accidentally provoking backlashes against their research. The “Made the same way” podcast series is a collaboration between young artists and scientists in partnership with Reform Radio to embrace the difficult conversations about this research and its ethical, legal and social implications. Each episode encourages thinking and discussion about using human cells in labs. Each artist has reflected on their conversation with a scientist by creating an original song or poem to echo their feelings and stimulate curiosity about research in human developmental biology amongst their peers and explore how it might contribute positively to society.
Marlene Dattoli, University of Malta
Co-creation card game to drive environmental justice
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy in the next several decades will be necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. In this regard, this interactive workshop will create a space using creative tools and processes for participants to explore their role as enablers of a just and sustainable future.
Co-design, co-creation, citizen science, open innovation have become buzzwords used in the public engagement with research. Through a card game called CourseKit, based on design thinking processes. Participants will co-design ideas to bring policy makers, regional bodies, citizens and researchers together for impactful participatory science engagement activities to address Nature-based solutions (NbS) for the ‘wicked problems’ of climate change and biodiversity loss based on the principle of the right to ecological spaces. This talk is inspired by the EU-funded projects, Varcities (H2020), JUSTNature (H2020) and SciCultureD (ERasmus+).