On August 28, 2024, Inês Saavedra of SHINE 2Europe showcased the Citizen Science activities protocol at the 35th International Geographical Congress in Dublin. This presentation is part of SHINE’s contributions to the OneAquaHealth project, where SHINE leads the Citizen Science Work Package. Titled “Engaging Citizens to Monitor Urban Aquatic Ecosystems: The OneAquaHealth Case,” the talk detailed the protocol’s methodology, including recommendations for recruitment, training, data collection, handling, reporting, quality assurance, and communication. Insights from the literature review and the co-creation process with the consortium, shared during the recent Transnational Project Meeting, were also included.
The presentation was part of the panel titled “Research Methods: Community Engagement through Citizen Science Environmental Monitoring: Nature Restoration and Climate Adaptation 2.” Attendees posed thought-provoking questions, such as how to incorporate elements of surprise beyond predefined parameters in the app. These suggestions will be taken into account as we continue to develop and refine the protocol.
Next, we will adapt the protocol to suit the specific needs and characteristics of each research site. Citizen Science activities will be rolled out in five research cities. Based on the results, we will further refine the protocol and broaden its dissemination to enhance understanding of urban stream ecosystems through standardized data collected by citizens.
OneAquaHealth is a Horizon Europe project dedicated to improving the sustainability of urban stream ecosystems by recognizing the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and the environment through the One Health approach. The project aims to advance environmental observations for informed policy-making across five European cities: Benevento, Coimbra, Ghent, Oslo, and Toulouse.