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How to make a difference: An introduction to the WeObserve project, and an outline of the learning objectives of this course | ECS Academy
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An introduction to the WeObserve project, and an outline of the learning objectives of this course

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Welcome to the course

Welcome to Citizen Science Projects: How to Make a Difference. This module has been designed by WeObserve, a consortium of four Citizens’ Observatories that have come together to support environmental monitoring by citizens across Europe and beyond. Please watch this video for an introduction to the course by Professor Mel Woods of the University of Dundee.

This is an image of the WeObserve project logoIn this course, we’ll introduce you to the WeObserve project and citizen science. We’ll show you how people around the world can collaborate to monitor changes in the environment which impact their local area and the planet. 

Citizens Observatories are environmental monitoring projects that anyone can participate in, whether they have formal scientific training or not. The goal is to help collect data that will improve how we understand and manage our environment. These initiatives often use modern technology such as smartphones or sensors to report observations, and the internet to analyse the data. Citizens observatories fall into the wider category of citizen science. Citizen science covers a broad spectrum of scientific research. Members of the public (citizen scientists) collaborate with trained scientists in a range of ways – from forming the research question, and collecting the data, to data analysis, and eventually publication or policy implementation.

This course will take a hands-on approach to citizen science. You’ll be discussing some big issues in environmental monitoring with other learners as you make your way through the course. The whole idea of Citizens’ Observatories is about taking action in small steps, right where you are. You’ll have lots of opportunities to share what you’re interested in and learn from others’ experiences as we work through the course together. 

Here are some of the topics we’ll cover:

  • Opportunities to get involved in citizen science
  • Mapping environmental issues
  • How to form a community of engaged citizen scientists
  • Designing citizen science activities
  • Using open access tools
  • Measuring the problem and collecting data
  • Analysing and visualising data
  • Sharing results and opening up data access
  • Creating a positive impact and change, including how citizen science can contribute solutions during crises, such as global pandemics and extreme weather events.

With this knowledge, we hope you will feel empowered to get involved in citizen science in any way that fits your interests. 

You can also join the conversation about this course on 

using the hashtag #CitizenScienceMOOC.

Welcome to the WeObserve project 

Please watch this next video to find out about the Citizens Observatories that make up WeObserve, and to meet some of the people involved in the project.



Meet the WeObserve Team

On this course, you’ll meet many people involved with WeObserve. Your lead educators are:

  • Mel Woods, Professor in Creative Intelligence, University of Dundee
  • Saskia Coulson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Dundee
  • Raquel Ajates, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Dundee
  • Andy Cobley, Senior Lecturer, University of Dundee
  • Steffen Fritz, Acting Director of the Ecosystems Services and Management program, Head of the Center for Earth Observation and Citizen Science, Project Leader for WeObserve, IIASA
  • Inian Moorthy, Research Scholar, IIASA
  • Linda See, Senior Research Scholar, IIASA
  • Gerid Hager, Research Scholar, IIASA
  • Dilek Fraisl, Research Scholar, IIASA
  • Margaret Gold, Project Officer, the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA)
  • Joan Maso, Senior Researcher, CREAF
  • Ester Prat, Project Assistant, CREAF
  • Valantis Tsiakos, Scientific Project Manager, ICCS
  • Uta Wehn, Associate Professor of Water Innovation Studies, Project Director of Ground Truth 2.0, Acting Head of Knowledge & Capacity Development Chair, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education


Last modified: Wednesday, 17 March 2021, 2:40 PM
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