Science and society
Citizen science
CEAB-CSIC-coordinated citizen science projects:
Mosquito Alert
Citizen science for the control of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Mosquito Alert is a project that helps detect, monitor, and control the tiger mosquito and other species that can transmit diseases such as Zika, Dengue, or Chikungunya.
Surveillance is carried out by means of the Mosquito Alert app, which allows anyone to report – by means of uploading a photo – the potential sighting of one of the studied mosquito species, as well as its breeding sites. Along with the photo, the observation location is recorded, as well as other necessary information to help in species identification. An expert entomologist validates the received photos and notifies the participant of the result. Finally, the result is published on the public map, where observations registered since 2014 can be viewed and downloaded, as well as exploring probability models developed from them. The information obtained through Mosquito Alert complements scientific work on the surveillance of invasive mosquitoes, which can be used by public health managers for monitoring and controlling these mosquitoes.
Observadores del Mar
Citizen science for marine conservation.
We are one of the coordinating centres of this citizen science project, in which the general public can collaborate with research teams in monitoring marine species and habitats within specific research projects, such as monitoring the effects of heatwaves or monitoring highly threatened species. The users simply uploads observations to the Sea Observers platform, indicating details such as the name of the corresponding project, the specific observation, the location where it was made and any accompanying images. The researchers then verify the observations, which, if validated, contribute directly to the knowledge obtained by scientific teams through their research. The information provided by Observers adds to the scientific understanding of the marine environment and its response to global change, being of great interest for management, conservation and restoration actions.
Plasticøpyr Switch
The CEAB is the driving force behind this citizen science project aimed at reducing plastic pollution in high-mountain ecosystems and making tourism compatible with nature conservation. Participants can collaborate with scientific teams by carefully approaching rivers and streams, searching for plastic waste and uploading their observations through a mobile application for smartphones and tablets. This information complements what researchers obtain through their scientific research. Likewise, the project helps raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution and what we can do to combat it, as well as involving people in nature protection.
Bycatch
By means of a mobile application created by the CEAB-CSIC in collaboration with SEO/BirdLife, professional and recreational fishermen, as well as anyone else who frequents the sea, can report accidental captures of vulnerable marine fauna (marine birds, cetaceans and other marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks and at-risk fish).
Accidental catches pose a serious threat to these marine organisms and, consequently, to ecosystem balance. The data obtained through this collaboration between scientific teams and citizens contributes to better understanding these captures: when, where and how they occur, with what fishing gear, and which species are affected. This information is essential for understanding the problem and finding effective and consensus-based solutions with the various stakeholders.
CEAB-CSIC information
Discover the secrets of aquatic ecosystems
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