Citizen Science in Action: Empowering Climate Assemblies
On 24th May 2024, the UAegean team in collaboration with EURECAT held an insightful Living Lab workshop on Citizen Science Application for Climate Assemblies, bringing together passionate individuals to discuss how citizen engagement can shape impactful climate policy!
The workshop was a dynamic space for learning and collaboration, focusing on how citizen science—where everyday people contribute to scientific research—can be integrated into climate assemblies. As climate change accelerates, it is crucial that climate assemblies have access to accurate, community-driven data to guide their recommendations. Through community-driven projects, people can gather real-time data on environmental conditions empowering citizens to directly influence climate policies. A new tool, created by the CLIMAS partner EURECAT, that can be used for gathering environmental data, was introduced to the participants of the LL. The scope of this tool is to enhance their ability to express their point of view during the deliberation process. Considering that Chios coastline, as many other seaside areas in Greece and worldwide, face marine litter pollution, a citizen science project related to this crucial problem was selected to be the deliberation topic of the workshop (Marine LitterWatch project).
Participants were enthusiastic throughout the process and felt satisfaction for their involvement at the CLIMAS activities. They suggested organising field trips to obtain hands-on experience on the environmental topic discussed during the assembly as well as to receive knowledge from the citizens that participate at the citizen science project. The workshop emphasized the importance of partnerships between scientists, policymakers, and citizens. Working together, we can ensure that data collected by communities is integrated into policy frameworks, bridging the gap between science and governance.
Together, we’re building a stronger foundation for collaborative climate actions!
Author: University of the Aegean
Picture credits: Eurecat
The CLIMAS Project has received funding from European Union’s Horizon Europe under Grant Agreement N° 101094021. Follow CLIMAS on LinkedIn, Instagram and X, or subscribe to the newsletter to stay updated with the latest activities!
