Citizen science is the scientific research that has the active participation of non-specialists, who adopt the role of amateur scientists in part or all of the research process.
This method is booming for its advantages and it is applied in very different fields of research. The CEAB-CSIC has been doing this for a long time in projects such as Mosquito Alert or Observadors del Mar.
This way of doing science, which is being promoted among all the centers of the Scientific Research Council (CSIC), has been one of the main axes of the II Conference on Scientific Culture and Citizen Science, held in Madrid on June 15 and 16.
One of our professionals -Aitana Oltra- has presented the first results of the working group she leads, aimed at creating a citizen science strategy for the entire CSIC.
The conferences seek to share experiences, strengthen ties and strengthen the network of scientific culture, as well as advance in the strategic axes of citizen science, inclusive science, large spaces for dissemination, global events and education, to which are added that of evaluation and, in the near future, advanced Science.
They also serve to know innovative and motivating initiatives of the CSIC institutes, centers and units.
Award for Microplastic Watchers
The first Prizes for Scientific Culture and Citizen Science have been delivered at these conference.
One of them, the second prize in the category of Citizen Science projects, has been by Microplastic Watchers, integrated into the Observadors del Mar citizen science platform.
From the project, coordinated by CEAB-CSIC)in collaboration with ICM-CSIC, the jury has highlighted “the ability to introduce the scientific method to the youngest” and to “raise awareness of the importance of the conservation of the marine environment”, as well as its “multidisciplinary nature”.
Gemma Agell, head of the dissemination line of the CEAB-CSIC, has thanked the distinction and all the teachers, students and centers that have been involved in this project.
Microplastic Watchers was born in 2016 as a result of the growing problem of contamination by plastic waste in the marine environment. Its objective is to involve the public in carrying out a diagnosis of the presence, abundance and variability of microplastics and mesoplastics on the beaches, in addition to raising awareness about the problem. Until now, the initiative has already been carried out in different parts of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia, with the participation of approximately 9,300 people.
Additional resources:
Summary of the topics covered in II Conference on Scientific Culture and Citizen Science:: https://twitter.com/iaa_csic/status/1670756499222675456
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocavPAhlNl8 (15th June)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op4ORx5hAeA (16th June)
