Citizen Science

One avenue toward democratizing sustainable development is to engage more people in the science of sustainability. An example is The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network, led by Imperial College London. OPAL engages people through science-based activities that can be done in back gardens and local parks.

Currently OPAL is running several nature surveys that community members can contribute to, including:

Tree Health
Bug Count
Biodiversity in hedges
Water in local ponds
Air (through effects on lichen)
Soil and earthworms

Each survey web page explains what to look for and how the information contributes to knowledge about the health of the environment. A short video engages viewers with the actual process of doing the survey. In addition, there are downloads that include everything needed to participate. The final step is submitting your results online.

By helping people connect to nature through participatory science, OPAL and other citizen science initiatives aim to improve people’s appreciation and care of the environment while also advancing our scientific understanding. People become more confident in generating knowledge and seeing how their participation in this and other areas is connected to a health environment.

Read more about OPAL http://www.opalexplorenature.org/opalobjectives