Citizen Science in action

Code: BIO16117O

6 ECTS

Duration: 6 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences, Environment and Ecology Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: B-learning

Sustainable Development Goals

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

11. Cidades e comunidades sustentáveis - Tornar as cidades e os assentamentos humanos inclusivos, seguros, resilientes e sustentáveis.

13. Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

14. Proteger a vida marinha - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

15. Proteger a vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge about the principles, methods and impacts of citizen science, enabling them to design, implement and evaluate scientific projects with public participation. Promote a critical and ethical attitude towards citizen involvement in scientific research and its role in society.
- Identify the potential and limitations of Citizen Science (CS)
- Identify and describe examples of CS projects in various areas of knowledge
- Analyse the ethical, legal and social implications associated with CS projects
- Formulate research questions appropriate to the implementation of CS projects
- Design a CS project: objectives, methodologies and strategies for participant engagement
- Select appropriate technological tools for data collection, management and data validation
- Produce scientific communication materials suitable for non-specialist audiences
- Work collaboratively

MODULE 1 ? Foundations of Citizen Science
Introduction, Basic principles and main concepts
MODULE 2 - Citizen Science is possible in my field of study?
Exploring Applications in Diverse Fields (Biology, Ecology, Health, Heritage, etc.)
MODULE 3 ? Engaging Participants and Using Technology
Citizen participation and digital resources
MODULE 4 ? Data quality, how to avoid problems
Ensuring Accuracy and Responsibility
MODULE 5 ? Communication
How to prepare (1) communication for engagement, and (2) communication of results for a non-academic audience
MODULE 6 ? Legal and ethical aspects
Legal and ethical aspects to take into account when preparing a CS project
MODULE 7 ? Hints and tips
Insides from real life Citizen Science project coordinators

Teaching Methods

This course has a very strong hands-on approach, and for that, a wide range of teaching methodologies will be used:
- Miro board: for individual and collaborative work, and for the co-creation parts
- AhaSlides (or similar platform): for promoting interaction and participation through live polls, word clouds, quizzes, etc.
- Expository methods: mainly for the setting the main concepts and create the basis for discussion
- iNaturalist: a citizen science initiative for gathering biological information (mainly distribution of species). We will use their app to provide real examples of data collection, and afterwards on data curation and validation
- Roundtable: opportunity to hear the stories from different citizen science project coordinators
- World-café format: in small groups, the students will have the opportunity to interact with experts on citizen science, present their ideas and have feedback
- Mentoring: besides the autonomous work, students will work on groups with the support of mentors, as a way to improve their projects

Assessment

M1 (10%)
- A concept map summarizing the principles and potential of Citizen Science.
- Concep note with initial brainstorming on personal interests and potential project ideas.

M2 (10%)
- A critical review of two existing Citizen Science projects.
- A refined project concept connected to their field of study.

M3 (10%)
- A detailed citizen participation plan for their project.
- A review of digital tools that could be integrated into their project.

M4 (10%)
- An analysis of potential challenges and strategies to mitigate them.
- Identification of the most probable problems/drawbacks with data on the project.

M5 (10%)
- A communication plan, including key messages and target audiences.

M6 (10%)
- A quality assurance and ethical framework tailored to their project.

Final work (40%)
- A comprehensive project proposal, incorporating insights from all modules.