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Short Abstract

This presentation will explore how community mapping with an Extreme Citizen Science approach draws from anticolonial practice to support Indigenous people to record what matters to them in rural cultural landscapes in areas of environmental change.

Abstract

Indigenous Peoples, while not monolithic, share long histories shaped by interaction with colonisation and continue to face external political and natural threats. Owing to their close relationships with and dependence on local environments, the difficulties Indigenous Peoples already face—human rights violations, loss of land, threats to their way of life, and economic and political marginalisation—are exacerbated by climate change and landscape recording practices which exclude them. WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic) practices are deeply rooted in historically close relationships between scientific imperialism, and colonial perceptions of land and territory. Institutional structures in academia, environmental science, heritage management, and landscape recording continue to be inherently hostile towards Indigenous Knowledge, and Indigenous Peoples have been essentially absent from landscape recording policies. Given the impact of environmental change on Indigenous communities there is a growing expectation that institutional systems conduct meaningful collaboration to integrate Indigenous epistemologies into cultural landscape recording, particularly in remote regions. This presentation will discuss how drawing from the Extreme Citizen Science approach to co-design projects, and undertake them with the consent of and respect for the Indigenous community, can support groups of any cultural or literate background to co- collaborate in, contribute to, and benefit from landscape recording. It will demonstrate how engaging anticolonial practices can develop more equitable approaches to Citizen Science mapping of remote cultural landscapes with Indigenous communities supported to produce research that responds to community need, researchers from outside the Indigenous community supporting this, and a focus on Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

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Indigenous Traditional Knowledge documentation is a pivotal citizen science initiative ensuring sustainable development among tribal communities. Stakeholder engagement and community participation is a key to emerging environmental problems.

Abstract

The presentation highlights the importance of documenting Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) as a vital citizen science initiative that supports sustainable development within tribal communities. By valuing and integrating local ecological wisdom, ITK serves as a foundation for addressing contemporary environmental challenges. The discussion emphasises the role of stakeholder engagement and active community participation in conserving natural resources, fostering resilience, and ensuring inclusive environmental governance. This approach bridges traditional practices with modern science, creating pathways toward long-term sustainability. With the help of case studies, the tribal forested communities of Northern Chhattisgarh, a tribal-dominated region of our hinterland, Central India, would be further discussed.

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Chile has many community science initiatives due to the lack of coverage of governmental environmental monitoring in such a varied, wild and vast country. Representing Voluntarios por el Agua, measuring river water quality, we illustrate our tools and the data we grapple with and try to communicate.

Abstract

The community science project, Voluntarios por el Agua has been carrying out water quality measurements and repeat photography for four years. A mix of local activists, nature lovers and scientists make up the project that started as a means to monitor the beloved rivers of the Maipo watershed in the Andes mountains to the east of Santiago.

Correct usage of instruments, training on data collection, the units of monitoring and consistency of the measurement times are of high priority but as the project evolved, errors crept in and needed to be corrected and explained in different ways to the volunteers so as not to criticise, but to empower them.

The project was kept together by the bond that was born by gathering by the river, meeting new people, sharing ideas and planning community events, but the data is our growing evidence-based tool that will hopefully be taken more seriously when we learn how to communicate it to the authorities. The lessons learned by combining the knowledge base of scientists with the spirituality and importance of the place based on ancenstral knowledge and the insights into the threats to the water courses from local activists is invaluable and has made the project multi-faceted and the sum of many parts. How to keep doing quantitative robust science while fitting into local people´s needs and drive is challenging and inspiring.

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Sensor setups play a key role in citizen science, from air quality monitoring to ocean observations. We propose an open-source, modular kit with integrated software for sensor and metadata storage, ensuring usability, quality control, and flexible deployment.

Abstract

Citizen science projects that rely on sensor measurements often face reoccurring challenges in hardware selection and data transfer, diverting resources from the actual research questions.

We present the prototype of the Open Source Building Kit (OSBK), an open, modular system designed for sensor-based data collection. It has been developed with a focus on oceanographic applications, such as drifters measuring water currents and quality, which can be deployed in citizen science contexts on small fishing vessels or private sailing boats.

OSBK consists of three main components: a series of hardware modules, a mobile application, and a Data Node. The hardware module supports a wide range of sensors for data acquisition and communicates with the OSBK app via Bluetooth for straightforward configuration of modules and parameters.

The Data Node serves as storage for measurement series and metadata. To support data quality and completeness, administrators can define templates with standardised vocabularies and custom metadata requirements.

The current development stage includes fully functional prototypes. To demonstrate OSBK beyond its oceanographic applications, we applied it in a student research project investigating the relationship between temperature and vegetation in urban meadows. Ten OSBK hardware modules measured temperature and humidity over several weeks, generating more than 227,000 data points across multiple locations. This case study showed that OSBK can be effectively operated by non-expert users while also identifying priorities for further development, particularly in improving usability and ensuring system robustness.

All components are open source and publicly available: https://gitlab.awi.de/osbk

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Over 27,000 Danish students joined a citizen science project to uncover hidden biodiversity (mosses, lichens, tardigrades). They recorded 8,472 findings, including new species for science and Denmark, greatly expanding biodiversity data and showing how students can advance science and awareness.

Abstract

Biodiversity is all around us, yet much of it remains invisible to the naked eye, especially microscopic organisms living in everyday environments. This “dark biodiversity” often goes unnoticed despite its critical ecological roles. Here, we present a nationwide citizen science initiative in Denmark that engaged >27,000 students from middle and high schools in hands-on research to reveal this hidden biodiversity. The project, implemented through collaboration between the national natural science center Astra and the Natural History Museum of Denmark, to foster scientific literacy, make local biodiversity visible, and collect authentic ecological data on mosses, lichens, and tardigrades. A total of 1,271 classes from 443 schools across 95 municipalities participated, achieving nationwide coverage across all regions. Through hands-on fieldwork and laboratory activities, students uncovered and documented with a mobile app this unseen world, generating a robust dataset of 8,472 species records. These include 57 moss species, 44 lichens, and 49 tardigrade morphospecies –five of which are new to science– while also increasing the Danish tardigrade list from 5 to 49 species. Student engagement was notably high, driven by motivations to contribute meaningfully to science, curiosity, and the opportunity to spend time outdoors. Samples were verified by experts and incorporated into national biodiversity databases and museum collections, ensuring lasting scientific value. This project demonstrates how large-scale, school-based citizen science can uncover hidden biodiversity while engaging students in meaningful ecological research. By aligning educational aims with scientific goals, the project produced valuable biodiversity data and fostered deeper connections between young people and nature.

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The InvasiveCitizen project engages students in interactive activities and field data collection to raise awareness of invasive plant species. It helps them explore how human and environmental factors contribute to the distribution of these inavsive species and understand ways to limit their spread.

Abstract

Human activities are a major driver of environmental change, including the introduction and spread of invasive species. The InvasiveCitizen project was designed to raise awareness about invasive plant species in Switzerland while also contributing to data collection and prediction of their spread. The project primarily targeted highschool students through a series of linked workshops. These workshops introduced the concept of invasive species and illustrated how machine learning can be applied to predict their spread. To simplify the concept, students first engaged with a paper-based game to understand how different variables can contribute to species spatial spread, which was later adapted into a board-game to reach a wider audience. In addition to classroom activities, students participated in field data collection using a dedicated mobile application developed for the project. The app provided real-time feedback on the probability of observing an invasive plant species in a given location, helping students connect the predictive classroom game to real-world applications. This feedback also served as a preliminary validation tool for collected data. Additionally, during the field trip, students participated in eradication activities for some of the observed plants. The workshop's materials were then used as a base to produce an educational kit stored at a science museum for use during school visits. The kit allows students to explore invasive plant species through interactive activities: a board-game to understand spatial spread, a card game addressing origins and ecological, economic, and health impacts, and the data collection app for those interested in contributing to ongoing monitoring.

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ACT4BEES actively involves researchers and citizen scientists in studying the biodiversity of Apoidea and environmental quality in Trento. The results provide an essential foundation for future research and the implementation of policies aimed at protecting and conserving pollinators in the region.

Abstract

Pollinators are essential for biodiversity and ecosystem health but face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides.

ACT4BEES, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, investigates the biodiversity and distribution of Apoidea, identifies habitats favorable to their survival, and assesses environmental quality through the analysis of pollen collected by Apis mellifera.

From April to July, with monthly sampling intervals, the MUSE – Science Museum, together with its project partners, conducted a survey across thirteen monitoring sites located within the municipality of Trento. In each site, an environmental monitoring station was established, equipped with two Apis mellifera hives for pollen collection and contaminant analysis, focusing on heavy metals and agrochemicals. In addition, two dedicated stations were set up for monitoring the biodiversity of Anthophila Apoidea. Entomological sampling was carried out in urban and peri-urban areas by citizen scientists using passive traps (pan traps), while in peri-urban and natural areas, entomological researchers performed sampling along standardized transects of known dimensions. To date, the project has collected over 900 Apoidea specimens belonging to five families and numerous genera. Multiresidual and palynological analyses of pollen samples revealed the presence of pesticides and heavy metals across all monitored sites. ACT4BEES actively involves citizens, and researchers, providing an initial knowledge base on wild bee diversity, floral resources, and environmental quality within the municipality of Trento. The findings represent an essential starting point for developing local land management strategies and for guiding future research aimed at the protection and conservation of pollinators in the region.

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We report on the novel 'Button' citizen science tool for cyclists to self-report their experiences of pleasantness, present results of initial testing in Helsinki, outline its technical integration with other devices, and present the methodology of future empirical work using the buttons.

Abstract

Urban greenery plays an important role in sustainable, healthy and liveable cities. However, while the availability of greenery and the wellbeing benefits it imparts are well known in urban residential areas, less is understood of the impacts and effects of greenery exposure in the daily active travel environments of urban residents. This includes for cycling, increasingly promoted as a sustainable mode of transport in many European cities.

There is a plethora of quantitative metrics on the environmental quality of cycling environments, including access to real-time information such as air quality or noise. Yet, gaps remain in measuring and understanding the lived and subjective experiences of cyclists as they move through their city in their everyday travel, including on greenery exposure, in real-time.

In this presentation, we will share the work to develop and implement a novel rapid citizen science tool, ‘Buttons’, which acts as a highly portable and lightweight sensor system that can be attached to bike handles and enables cyclists to conduct real-time mapping of pleasant and unpleasant experiences during their everyday cycling activities. Developed at low cost and easy to use, the Buttons systems is inclusive, available to anyone and ready for rapid upscaling in initiatives that aim to better understand the subjective experiences of urban residents during their everyday travel.

We report on the design of the button system and results of initial testing with participants in Helsinki; its technical integration with other devices and sensors to monitor changes in cyclist wellbeing in real-time using objective measurements (for example, heart rate, cortisol); and, present the methodology for empirical in-situ experimental work that will leverage the Button tool to help measure and understand cyclist’s experiences of urban travel greenery and its wellbeing impacts.

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Drawing on urban pilots across Europe, this paper explores how tools and methods are used to engage diverse communities in co-creating environmental data and innovation to support inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development and inform decisions in underserved areas.

Abstract

As cities across Europe navigate the complexities of climate adaptation and sustainable development, citizen science offers pathways for broadening participation in environmental data collection, knowledge production, and sustainability innovation for resilient and sustainable urban areas, especially in communities that are often underrepresented in urban decision-making.

By drawing on experiences from ongoing real-world pilots, taking place in the autumn of 2025 in two EU-funded projects, GreenInCities and ULALABS, this paper explores how citizen science initiatives can support inclusive and sustainable urban development by enabling environmental data collection and participation in innovation processes. We examine how tools and methods, such as participatory mapping, mobile apps, and sensors, are deployed within Living Labs and testbeds across several European cities to engage a diversity of citizens in co-creating knowledge and innovation for inclusive, multifunctional and climate-resilient urban spaces. By focusing on co-creation and co-learning processes, we explore the interconnections between aims, inclusive participation, the use of tools and methods, and their implications for how citizen-generated data and participation is mobilized in decision-making. Furthermore, we will highlight barriers and facilitators encountered across the diverse contexts of the studied pilots and reflect on lessons learned for designing inclusive, ethical, and impactful citizen science initiatives.

By connecting ecological, social, and institutional systems through transdisciplinary approaches, this contribution speaks to the panel’s focus on how citizen science can strengthen urban resilience, democratize environmental knowledge, and inform inclusive and equitable urban planning and sustainability innovation, especially in communities and areas where conventional monitoring and participation in decision-making is sparse.

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Citizen science reveals heatwave-driven tree drying in Bucharest, offering a scalable model for urban planning and management. The presented results are part of a nationally funded project in Romania - Enhancing social equity in urban planning through citizen science.

Abstract

Climate change is a significant challenge in urban ecosystems, with heatwaves and droughts severely impacting vegetation health. In cities like Bucharest, the urban heat island phenomenon intensifies these stressors, accelerating tree health decline and reducing ecosystem services. This study examines the implementation of citizen science as a tool for monitoring the impacts of climate-induced heat stress on urban trees.

During the summer season in 2022 and 2025, fifteen Environmental Science students, both bachelor's and master's, conducted a participatory mapping campaign across 135 primary and secondary streets in Bucharest. Following initial training, students used the ArcGIS Survey123 mobile app to document tree species, size, and health, identifying over 3,000 trees as either partially (over 50%) or completely dried. A team of three experts randomly validated the collected data to ensure accuracy.

The most affected species were Linden, Ash, Plane, and Maple, with approximately 7% of trees unidentifiable due to advanced degradation or removal. Only 25% of the dried trees exhibited signs of pruning, while 75% lacked visible stressors other than exposure to extreme heat, suggesting a strong correlation with recent heatwaves.

The results highlight the value of citizen science in rapidly collecting large-scale, spatially distributed environmental data. This approach enhances urban climate monitoring and also fosters public engagement and environmental stewardship. The study advocates for the scalability and replicability of participatory mapping as a cost-effective strategy for assessing the impact of climate change on urban vegetation, offering a model for other cities aiming to build resilience through inclusive, data-driven environmental governance.