Citizen Science and the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Social and Technical Capacity through Data Collection in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Groundwater Monitoring through Citizen Science: A Review of Project Designs and Results

Citizen science is increasingly prominent in the field of freshwater monitoring. Although there is a large body of literature related to surface water monitoring, less experience exists regarding citizen-based monitoring of groundwater resources. This calls for a better understanding of the actual experiences of citizen science in the field of groundwater monitoring, including specific project designs and results. Based on a systematic review of 33 citizen-based groundwater monitoring activities, we analyze (1) the design of citizen science projects, including their general project characteristics, institutional characteristics, citizen characteristics, and forms of interactions, as well as (2) their results, including their data outputs, outcomes on citizens, and impacts on problem-solving. Results show that projects mainly have positive results on data quantity and quality and partly influence the citizens themselves and their contributions to groundwater-related problem-solving. Information on project design characteristics is scarce and mostly hints at the relevance of specific process mechanisms such as training and feedback. Based on these results, we suggest groundwater-related projects to consider involving citizen scientists in monitoring activities in order to benefit research and citizens alike. Such involvement needs, however, careful design including relevant training to unfold its full potential for both sides. Researchers are advised here to rigorously report on both design and results to further improve citizen science practice in the future.

Citizen Science as an Innovative Approach to Analyze Spatial and Temporal Influences on Nitrate Pollution of Water Bodies: Results of a Participatory Research Project in Germany

Anthropogenic influences and the excessive input of reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment have already severely destabilized the natural nitrogen cycle. Especially in northwestern Germany, many water bodies are polluted by nitrate, inducing negative effects on the ecosystem and drinking water as well as possible risks to human health. In cooperation with almost 600 citizens and 200 students, this issue was addressed in a citizen science project carried out by the Universities of Osnabrück and Oldenburg, gathering 8754 nitrate measurements at 545 monitoring sites from September 2019 to March 2021. The data were used to evaluate the potential of citizen science for research on nitrogen pollution of water bodies. In a pre-investigation, we proved that nitrate test strips are suitable as a measurement method for the citizen science approach to provide an overview of nitrate pollution. We then analyzed whether the citizen science approach can be used to establish an area-wide representative measurement network, to what extent the data can be used for spatial and temporal analyses, and whether the data are consistent with the results of other monitoring initiatives. For this purpose, geoprocessing tools, such as spatial joins and heatmaps, were combined with descriptive statistics and nonparametric statistical tests. Although it was not possible to establish a representative monitoring network due to the uneven spatial distribution of monitoring sites, a large part of the intended area was covered by monitoring sites. Thus, the data provide a good overview of the nitrate pollution in the region and shed light on influencing factors. Spatial impacts, such as land cover and use and hydrogeological conditions, as well as seasonal impacts were statistically evidenced with the citizen science data. Furthermore, the consistency of the data with the measurement results of established measurement initiatives confirm the quality of the citizen science dataset. Accordingly, citizen science can be used to investigate spatial and temporal factors influencing nitrogen pollution, and thus contributes to water conservation research as an innovative approach.