Changing environment, changing health
Our environment and health are intertwined and we must equip future generations with adaptive capacities to achieve sustainable human wellbeing. Read more [...]
Tag Archives: citizen science
Science together – contributing to citizen science projects around the world
Citizen science (CS) is a freely accessible and meaningful way to explore measure and experiment with the world around you. Also known as community science, crowd science, crowd-sourced science, voluntary monitoring and networked science, the initiative allows the public to engage with, contribute to and conduct scientific research to broadly increase knowledge. Read more [...]
Archaeological heritage vulnerable to climate change
Climate change poses a threat to archaeological heritage. However, archaeological heritage seldom appears in the IPCC-reports on climate change. There is an urgent need to connect archaeology with this phenomenon, according to scientists, as rising sea levels and the increase of extreme weather events pose a real threat. Measures have to be taken to protect vulnerable sites, which often are situated in coastal areas. The general public can help, as various projects along Europe’s coast show. Read more [...]
Stick out your tongue!
What scientists know about the microcosmos of your tongue's flora could help keep people healthy. In this opinion piece, genomics expert Toni Gabaldón, explains how crowdsourcing samples of microbes from people's tongue will contribute to advancing our understanding of the flora in our mouth. Read on about this exciting citizen science project. Read more [...]
Jean-Claude Burgelman: the new open science paradigm requires fine tuning
The EC consultation on Science 2.0, whose results have recently been published, raised a number of issues that may need to be addressed before the idea of open science can fully be implemented. In particular, the need to introduce incentives in the scientific process to encourage scientists to share their data and publish in open access journals was brought up by many of the stakeholders consulted. He also sees the role of the Commission as that of a broker to create a level playing field to make it possible for open science to flourish. Read more [...]
Towards increasing citizens’ contribution to research
The Internet is still in its twenties—or its 2.0ties. We are now witnessing the emergence of a ‘social mind’ thanks to digital tools and new media. This new phenomenon facilitates the application of collective intelligence and creativity to devise innovative solutions in academia, industries and policy environments. As part of the Socientize project, we are focusing on enabling citizens to actively participate in science. Read more [...]
Flavouring science education with a sprinkle of current research
Are citizens—students and pupils in particular—engaged in current research? Not really. There is still a huge gap between the latest research carried out by the scientific community and society—including the education community. In parallel, Europe faces a decrease in the interest of pupils in science subjects and a decline in the number of students aiming for scientific careers. Worse, many young people express negative attitudes towards science, in the way it is currently taught in schools. Read more [...]
Scientists’ dreams: a society supporting science and respecting its autonomy
Science is closely linked with society. And yet, despite its close interdependency with society, science demands autonomy – the right to organise its discovery processes according to its own rules and some freedom to select research topics in accordance with its own agenda. Since society now widely recognises the economic and political importance of science, it has come under scrutiny. Its demands for autonomy are now contested. Read more [...]
Citizen scientists wanted
Over the last few years a new trend in scientific research is emerging - an increasing number and range of science projects are relying on the contribution of volunteers or as they are now called, citizen scientists.
Citizen science is not new. For Read more [...]
EuroScientist journal 