Dr. Katrin Vohland

Citizen Science and Environmental Reporting -

Challenges and Benefits

https://landsense.eu/

Dr. Katrin Vohland

Citizen Science and Environmental Reporting -

Challenges and Benefits

› What is Citizen Science?

› What is the COST Action about?

› and specifically the working group on policy

What is Citizen Science?

Citizens contribution to

data and scientific

knowledge (Bonney)

Empowering citizens (Irwin)

https://zeean.net

http://www.wissenschaftsjahr.de/jugendaktion

http://www.naturgucker.de

http://cdn.phys.org/newman/gfx/new

s/hires/2012/smallportabl.jpg

http://2009.igem.org/wiki/images/thumb/0/06/PKU_Overview_MLP.jp

g/400px-PKU_Overview_MLP.jpg

Kullenberg & Kasperowski, 2016 PLoS ONE 11(1): e0147152. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0147152

Data from: http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html

„Citizen Science“ gains momentum

(2011-2016)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

FP7 H2020

Number of funded projects

Number of funded projects

(2016-2020)

More:

› Funding

› Participants

› Data

› Publications

› ECSA members

› ….

› Research on Citizen

Science

http://www.spessartprojekt.de/

The COST Action 15212 on Citizen Science

Research on Citizen Science: COST Action - CA15212: to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe

https://www.cs-eu.net/

Citizen Science

Research on Citizen Science: COST Action - CA15212: to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe

https://www.cs-eu.net/

• Scientific Excellence

&

• Inclusion

• Gender

• Youth (Early Career

Investigator)

• „Geography“

(Inclusiveness Target

Country – ITC)

Research on Citizen Science: COST Action - CA15212: to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe

https://www.cs-eu.net/

Research on Citizen Science: COST Action - CA15212: to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe

https://www.cs-eu.net/

Working Group 3 – Improve society-science-policy interface

Working Group 3 – Improve society-science-policy interface

› Citizen Science Strategies in Europe

Topics in focus

› Next steps

› Questionnaire – Workshop – Discussion at MC Meeting Cesis, spring 2019

Working Group 3 – Improve society-science-policy interface

› Citizen Science and Open Science

Topics in focus

Working Group 3 – Improve society-science-policy interface

› Citizen Science and Open Science

Topics in focus

https://ec.europa.eu/research/openscience/pdf/citizen_science_recomendations.pdf

Working Group 3 – Improve society-science-policy interface

› Citizen Science and Environmental Reporting

Topics in focus

Links

To match better policy needs and others:

The Platform for Sharing, Initiating, and Learning Citizen Science in Europe

› Providing resources

› Engaging stakeholders

› Contribution to

sustainable

development

The European Commission’s scienceand knowledge service

Joint Research Centre

Citizen Science – selected highlights from relevant EC activities

Sven Schade

s.schade@ec.europa.eu

Contributors include: Marina Manzoni, Jean Dusart, Fabiano Spinelli, Irena Mitton, Roberto Sgnaolin,Chrisa Tsinaraki, Alexander Kotsev, Massimo Craglia…

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/eu4facts/audiovisual3

4

Environmental Knowledge Community (EKC): A

joint collaboration between five Commission

DG’s and the European Environment Agency to

investigate the relationship between people and

data – not only to monitor the state and trends

of the environment and relations to human

health, but also to help assess the impact and

effects of the implementation of environmental

related policy across the European Union (EU).

Citizen Science, not new at European level…… but interest increased!

The Citizen Science work of the EKC concentrates on specific policy areas with a view to

establish a 'proof of concept'. Given the already available knowledge resources, we agreed to

develop EKC Citizen Science demonstrators on protected areas and invasive alien

species.

5

Policy impacts

Outcomes: Environmental CS

Action Plan on nature, people and the economy

Actions to streamline environmental reporting

Actions on environmentalcompliance assurance

Action plan on pollinators

Open Science Agenda,pillar on Citizen Science

Communities of practice

Mobile apps and platforms

6

Policy impacts

Outcomes: Environmental CS

Action Plan on nature, people and the economy

Actions to streamline environmental reporting

Actions on environmentalcompliance assurance

Action plan on pollinators

Open Science Agenda,pillar on Citizen Science

Communities of practice

Mobile apps and platforms

6

Dedicated inventory and study

• Survey of Citizen Science activities that can support environmental policies in the EU

• Financial support by the European Commission (DG Environment)

• Scientific and technical support by the EC (DG JRC)

• Contractor: Bio Innovation Service, in collaboration with FundacionIbercivis and The Natural History Museum

7

Citizen Science support along the policy cycle

8

Methodology

814 projects considered

503 projects included

100 projects selected

45 projects responded 1 final report

9

Inventory: environmental fields covered

Cross-cutting

Noise

Environmental health

Soil

Animal welfare

Waste

Environmental risk10

Inventory: type of projects

All results soon to be published as:

European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment; European Commission, Joint Research Centre; Bio Innovation Service (2018): An inventory of citizen science activities for environmental policies. European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) [Dataset] PID: http://data.europa.eu/89h/jrc-citsci-10004

12

13

14

Source: Conclusions Chapter (31) “Citizen science to foster

innovation in open science, society and policy” by A. Bonn,

S. Hecker, A. Bowser, Z. Makuch, J. Vogel and M. Haklay

Next steps

Fostering CS standards

Taking policy related actions

Promoting re-use of data & methods

Next steps

Fostering CS standards

Taking policy related actions

Promoting re-use of data & methods

Priorities for the day (1/2)

Citizen Scientists and policy makers: a connecting ecosystem

1. How can Citizen Science communities be supported in connecting Citizen Science to

environment-related policy?

2. How to balance and shape the level of involvement of public authorities (such as EPAs)?

3. What are good practices to provide feedback about the use of CS contributions to

environmental monitoring and how do citizens perceive the use of their inputs?

4. How to measure the benefits of Environmental CS, not only in economic terms but also

in terms of transparency, behavioral change and active citizenship?

5. What can we do to ensure data credibility and are there implications on data ownership?

16

Priorities for the day (1/2)

Citizen Scientists and policy makers: a connecting ecosystem

1. How can Citizen Science communities be supported in connecting Citizen Science to

environment-related policy?

2. How to balance and shape the level of involvement of public authorities (such as EPAs)?

3. What are good practices to provide feedback about the use of CS contributions to

environmental monitoring and how do citizens perceive the use of their inputs?

4. How to measure the benefits of Environmental CS, not only in economic terms but also

in terms of transparency, behavioral change and active citizenship?

5. What can we do to ensure data credibility and are there implications on data ownership?

> 5.5.e, 5.5.f and 5.6 (and 5.4.b)

> 5.1, 5.2.d

> 5.3 and 5.4

> 5.5.d

> 5.1 (and 5.1.a) and 5.2

16

Priorities for the day (2/2)

CS across geographic scales: opportunities & challenges

1. What can we learn in terms of governance from existing CS platforms, esp. in respect

to the integration of CS data with other environmental information?

2. What is needed to successfully link the local and European dimension (and even

global), and which stakeholders should be involved in different roles?

3. Which capacities (skills and resources) are needed for different stakeholders? What can

I offer? What would I need from others? How do we get there?

4. What is good enough for making CS data usable for of public authorities?

5. How to enable interoperability (given different jurisdictions, data availability across

environmental domains, culture, geographic scale)?

6. Which role might Artificial Intelligence and Earth Observation play to make CS more

relevant for environmental monitoring and reporting?17

Priorities for the day (2/2)

CS across geographic scales: opportunities & challenges

1. What can we learn in terms of governance from existing CS platforms, esp. in respect

to the integration of CS data with other environmental information?

2. What is needed to successfully link the local and European dimension (and even

global), and which stakeholders should be involved in different roles?

3. Which capacities (skills and resources) are needed for different stakeholders? What can

I offer? What would I need from others? How do we get there?

4. What is good enough for making CS data usable for of public authorities?

5. How to enable interoperability (given different jurisdictions, data availability across

environmental domains, culture, geographic scale)?

6. Which role might Artificial Intelligence and Earth Observation play to make CS more

relevant for environmental monitoring and reporting?

> 5.2 and 5.4

> 5.5

> 5.6 and 5.5

> 5.1 (and 5.2)

> 5.2 (and 5.5)

> 5.5.c17

Ready to go!

18

Thanks

Sven Schade

s.schade@ec.europa.eu

@innovatearth

EU environmental reporting: towards a paradigm shift

Elena Montani

Workshop, Ispra – 22 November 2018

EU environmental reporting: current information flow

Streamlining and simplifying reporting

New approach - towards a paradigm shift

Towards a new approach to:

• Increase transparency and accountability at national level

• Reduce administrative burden

• Use modern technologies more effectively

• Improve the evidence base

(e.g., in legislation, shift from "reporting" to obligations on “Information to the public”)

Example: Ireland’s Environment

• Award winning environmental

information portal

• Good practice: integrated, easy to use and comprehensive

• Significant efficiency gains, e.g. the time needed for reporting under the Industrial Emission Directive was reduced from 6 months (in 2010) to half a day (in 2012).

© Irish EPA

Main ongoing initiatives

• Actions to streamline environmental reporting ((COM(2017)312) + Fitness Check evaluation (SWD(2017)230) )

• Regulation on the alignment of environmental reporting (COM(2018)381)

• 10 env. laws aligned + proposals

on drinking water, POPs, water re-use and single use plastics applying a “new approach“

10 ACTIONS

1 Amend legislation

2 Change reporting (without changing legislation) - Rolling Work Programme 2018-2020

3 Modernise e-Reporting

4 Develop test tools for harvesting

5 Guidance for national environment information systems

6 Promote use of spatial data (INSPIRE application)

7 Better use of Copernicus data

8 Promote citizen science

9 Cooperate with other thematic areas (e.g. climate, statistics)

10 Wider international streamlining

Actions to streamline environmental reporting

Action 8 to streamline reporting

• Promote the wider use of citizen science to complement environmental reporting

• CS as a promising source of information and data

• cost-effective and useful in providing early warnings

• increases awareness and empowers people

• However, CS data not (yet) used widely for official

environmental monitoring and reporting

• Final objective: Stepwise actions leading to the development of guidelines in 2019

Roadmap for Action 8 (Guidelines)

Jan-June 2018

•Inventory

July-Oct 2018

•Analysis of inventory

Nov 2018 •Draft Skeleton Guidelines

Nov 2018-June 2019

•Consultation with stakeholders (Skeleton + draft Guidelines)

July 2019 •Revised guidelines+internal (Comm) consultation

Structure Skeleton Guidelines

Background and concepts

Opportunities/Challenges/Benefits

Examples of current practices

Lessons learnt (from inventory)

Recommendations

Conclusions & next steps

Extracts (1): Scope of the Guidelines

• Overview of the EU environmental citizen science landscape and practices

• Share good practices and lessons learnt in how CS & EU policies can support each other

• Highlight main potentials and challenges

• Targeted recommendations for exploiting the full potential of CS in environmental monitoring, to:

• Member States and local authorities

• EU policy makers

• Researchers

• Citizen science communities

Extracts (2): Main challenges

• Long-time scales and resources needed

• Resistance from public authorities, incl. perceived data quality concern

• Difficulty in identifying relevant policy linkages

• Involvement of scientific community

• Feedback and acknowledgement

• Data heterogeneity and data integration (official vs Citizen Science data)

• Privacy and ownership issues

• Governance across different levels

• Lack of guidance

Extracts (3): Main (potential) benefits

• Improved knowledge base

• Timely

• Reliable

• Fit-for-purpose

• Inclusiveness

• Better value for money

• Empowerment: more accountable, informed, open society

• Creation of networks and partnerships

• More inclusive and open research

Lessons learnt from current practices

• CS can underpin environmental policy, incl. monitoring SDGs

• Factors increasing policy uptake:

• Government support

• Facilitating citizen engagement

• Scientific excellence

• Sustainable business models

• NGOs are key actors of environmental CS

• A continuum of CS approaches to support policy

First set of recommendations: for discussion this afternoon!

Bridge the gaps between policy, scientists and the public

Provide standards for data quality and ensure interoperability

Track the use of citizen science data by end-users and guarantee policy feedback

Match-making data needs with available resources

Maximise the potential of unexploited initiatives

Promote technical and financial sustainability of projects

Next steps

Draft Guidelines (taking into account today’s discussion)

Consultations with stakeholders (incl. ECSA, MSs, EPAs)

Revised Guidelines and internal (Commission) consultation

Publication of Guidelines as Commission Staff Working Document (by end 2019)

EPA NETWORK

INTEREST GROUP ON CITIZEN SCIENCE

JOSE MIGUEL RUBIO IGLESIAS (EEA) ON BEHALF OF THE INTEREST GROUP ON CITIZEN SCIENCE

EPA NETWORK

Workshop on Citizen Science and Environmental Monitoring: Benefits and Challenges – 22/11/2018

Interest Group on Citizen Science

• EPA Network

Informal group of Heads and Directors of EPAs and similar bodies across Europe

Meet in Plenary twice a year

A number of Interest Groups look in detail on specific issues of interest

• Interest Group on Citizen Science

Established in 2014

Objective: To achieve a greater understanding how Citizen Science can deliver on EPA’s objectives through: - Sharing good practice and assist each other identifying and delivering successful Citizen Science projects

- Exploring how CS can go beyond data acquisition and empower citizens to take sound environmental decisions

Current members from 13 EPAs and EEA: BE-FL, CH, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, IE, NL, MT, SK, UK-EN, UK-SC Current co-chairs: EEA and RIVM (the Netherlands)

Meet annually (+ webinars – next 12/12)

IGCS members are involved in a number of CS networks and projects Air Quality, Waste, Biodiversity, Water Quality, Environmental Compliance, Education and

Awareness

Interest Group on Citizen Science

Interest Group on Citizen Science

• Some reflections on the role of Citizen Science in EPAs work Long story in EPAs (e.g. rainfall measurements)

Opportunities from new technologies

Key roles:

Identify and gather further evidence on emerging and existing issues

Provide recognition and gain trust in EPAs through public participation

Empower citizens to make sound environmental decision (e.g. local level)

EPAs drive some projects but also build on existing communities

EPAs as facilitators (data management & infrastructure, quality standards and procedures)

Data assimilation and timely feedback are key challenges

Several national strategies and guidelines on the use of CS by EPAs already available

SEPA, UKEOF, RIVM, German EPA, etc.

• IGCS Work Programme

Endorsed in September 2018 (EPA Network Plenary)

Rolling nature, to be reviewed annually

Three main working areas: 1) CS as an instrument to gather evidence for environmental policy development and implementation

- Citizen Science and Environmental Reporting (i.e. guidelines)

- Citizen Science and Environmental Compliance

- Sustainable Development Goals

2) The role of EPAs in contributing to citizen engagement and empowerment through CS

3) Knowledge and Information Exchange on Citizen Science activities

- Knowledge exchange document (repository of EPA´s good practices)

Interest Group on Citizen Science

• Next IGCS face-to-face meeting (23-24 May 2019, Zürich, CH)

Main topics:

CS contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Citizen empowerment

CS and Environmental Monitoring

• IGCS contribution to the guidelines could be particularly oriented towards

Gathering additional national and local CS activities

Reflecting on EPAs strategic approaches in using CS to achieve their mission

Discussing benefits and challenges from EPA perspective

Analysing possible governance and roles

Interest Group on Citizen Science

Pan-European Citizen Science initiative launched by the EPA Network in spring 2018

EEA (overall coordination) and 11 EPAs (+ observers)

“What are the effective ways of using Citizen Science to change behaviour of people in and around schools with regard to their own actions that influence air quality?”

Inspired by Curieuze Neuzen projects in Antwerp (2016) and Flanders (2018)

EPAs to run the related activities within their own constituencies

Minimum requirements agreed during October 2018 meeting: NO2 passive samplers, two at the same location

Street canyon in front of school/school yard, minimum one school per city

Four week campaign (spring or early autumn)

Focus on patterns rather than on absolute concentrations

EEA will prepare a proposal for common guidance based on EPAs input and a web portal

Next meetings in January 2019, possibly also in May 2019 back-to-back to IGCS meeting

EPA Network Initiative on Air Quality and Citizen Science

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

JOSE RUBIO (EEA)

ON BEHALF OF THE INTEREST GROUP ON CITIZEN SCIENCE

7th INSPIRE MIG meeting – Brussels, 7.12.2017

pibinko.org, citizen science and environmental monitoring

5. Wanto to know more? Below is the pibinko.org Autumn ‘18 tour (http://www.pibinko.org/calendar)

write to info@pibinko.org & keep updated on our projects http://www.pibinko.org/notizie

1. since early 1994, external relationship to JRC and EU (EMSL, IPSC, IES, INSPIRE). Some involvement in FP3, FP4, FP7, HORIZON2020.

2. Showcase: BuioMetria Partecipativa, M(‘)appare format, Farma Valley Community Map, Metalliferous Hills Jug Band

3. Other stakeholders engaged: NGOs (15), CNR (1), University (1), Municipalities (2), Schools (4), Natural reserves (4)

4. What do we need? ...we have some best practice to share (and some areas where we can use support)

22-11 6.50AM – Radio Popolare Milano - 2.30PM – PoliMI 23-11 8PM – Torino – Live with Etruschi from Lakota @Spazio MRF 1-12 – Madrid (tba)

5-12 – 10AM Radio Popolare Milano + live in Milano (tba) 12-12 Grosseto

14, 15, 16-12 – 3rd Farma Valley Winter Fest