How citizen science can help tackle the climate and nature crises
Volunteers are monitoring rivers across Scotland. Their data is catalysing action to improve water quality and biodiversity. Hear what works and why.
At Thrivable Scotland I’m asking how can we build resilience, regenerate natural systems and heal society, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, whatever the polycrisis brings next.
If we’re going to regenerate nature, we need to know what state nature’s in right now and whether it’s getting better or not. While remote sensing is really powerful in many situations, sometimes you need to be hands on, on the ground or even in the water.
So I met up with Rebecca Lewis who has built up a citizen science network that is generating open access data about the health of rivers across Scotland and heard how this data is starting to improve water quality and biodiversity at scale.
From my conversation with Rebecca Lewis you will:
Hear how Rebecca started volunteering in her local river and went on to leading a network of trained, volunteer citizen scientists who monitor the health of rivers at sites across Scotland.
Learn how the data is collected, and how the project engages with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and is helping form catchment partnerships.
Gain practical advice from Rebecca’s experience if you’re considering developing a citizen science project.
In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson, climate and energy policy specialist, and guest listener Nadine Andrews, systems thinking and nature connection practitioner, to discuss my conversation with Rebecca. Our reflections include:
The power of making the hidden world visible for engaging people with nature.
How becoming more aware of the state of nature can lead to a sense of powerlessness.
The importance of such projects offering a genuine sense of agency, where people can see that their actions are having a meaningful effect.
Connect:
Guest: Rebecca Lewis, Scotland & Northern Ireland Manager, Buglife
Guest Listener: Nadine Andrews
Co-host: Morag Watson
Host, me Osbert Lancaster
Learn More:
From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop:
Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac (source of the "world of wounds" quote)
