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Okop KJ, Kedir K, Kasenda S, Niyibizi JB, Chipeta E, Getachew H, Sell K, Lambert EV, Puoane T, Rulisa S, Bunn C, King AC, Bavuma C, Howe R, Crampin AC, Levitt NS. Multi-country collaborative citizen science projects to co-design cardiovascular disease prevention strategies and advocacy: findings from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and South Africa. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2484. [PMID: 38087240 PMCID: PMC10714547 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17393-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for 20.5 million annual deaths globally in 2021, with a disproportionally high burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is growing evidence of the use of citizen science and co-design approaches in developing interventions in different fields, but less so in the context of CVD prevention interventions in SSA. This paper reports on the collaborative multi-country project that employed citizen science and a co-design approach to (i) explore CVD risk perceptions, (ii) develop tailored prevention strategies, and (iii) support advocacy in different low-income settings in SSA. METHODS This is a participatory citizen science study with a co-design component. Data was collected from 205 participants aged 18 to 75 years in rural and urban communities in Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda, and urban South Africa. Fifty-one trained citizen scientists used a mobile app-based (EpiCollect) semi-structured survey questionnaire to collect data on CVD risk perceptions from participants purposively selected from two communities per country. Data collected per community included 100-150 photographs and 150-240 voice recordings on CVD risk perceptions, communication and health-seeking intentions. Thematic and comparative analysis were undertaken with the citizen scientists and the results were used to support citizen scientists-led stakeholder advocacy workshops. Findings are presented using bubble graphs based on weighted proportions of key risk factors indicated. RESULTS Nearly three in every five of the participants interviewed reported having a relative with CVD. The main perceived causes of CVD in all communities were substance use, food-related factors, and litter, followed by physical inactivity, emotional factors, poverty, crime, and violence. The perceived positive factors for cardiovascular health were nutrition, physical activity, green space, and clean/peaceful communities. Multi-level stakeholders (45-84 persons/country) including key decision makers participated in advocacy workshops and supported the identification and prioritization of community-specific CVD prevention strategies and implementation actions. Citizen science-informed CVD risk screening and referral to care interventions were piloted in six communities in three countries with about 4795 adults screened and those at risk referred for care. Health sector stakeholders indicated their support for utilising a citizen-engaged approach in national NCDs prevention programmes. The citizen scientists were excited by the opportunity to lead research and advocacy. CONCLUSION The collaborative engagement, participatory learning, and co-designing activities enhanced active engagement between citizen scientists, researchers, and stakeholders. This, in turn, provided context-specific insights on CVD prevention in the different SSA settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kufre J Okop
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Cape Town.
- Citizen Science Research Foundation (CSRF), Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Kiya Kedir
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, CA, Ethiopia
| | - Stephen Kasenda
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Jean Berchmans Niyibizi
- Directorate of Research and Innovation, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Effie Chipeta
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Kerstin Sell
- Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, IBE, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Estelle Victoria Lambert
- UCT Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thandi Puoane
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stephen Rulisa
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Christopher Bunn
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Abby C King
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA, CA
- Department of Medicine (Stanford Prevention Research Center), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA, CA
| | - Charlotte Bavuma
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Rawleigh Howe
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, CA, Ethiopia
| | - Amelia C Crampin
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Naomi S Levitt
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Cape Town
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Davies M, Haklay M, Kiprutto T, Laws M, Lewis J, Lunn-Rockliffe S, McGlade J, Moreu M, Yano A, Kipkore W. Supporting the capacities and knowledge of smallholder farmers in Kenya for sustainable agricultural futures: a Citizen Science pilot project. UCL Open Environ 2023; 5:e065. [PMID: 38045732 PMCID: PMC10691338 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa is often presented as the continent most vulnerable to climatic change with major repercussions for food systems. Coupled with high rates of population growth, continued food insecurity and malnutrition, thus the need to enhance food production across the continent is seen as a major global imperative. We argue here, however, that current models of agricultural development in Eastern Africa frequently marginalise critical smallholder knowledge from the process of future agricultural design due to a lack of a methodological tools for engagement. This paper addresses this by outlining a potential means to capture and share locally produced agronomic information on a large scale. We report on a 'Citizen Science' pilot study that worked with smallholder farmers in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Western Kenya, to co-design a mobile application using the well-developed Sapelli platform that easily allows farmers to identify, record and geolocate cropping patterns and challenges at multiple stages in the agricultural calendar using their own understanding. The pilot project demonstrated the technical and epistemological benefits of co-design, the abilities of smallholder farmers to co-design and use smartphone applications, and the potential for such technology to produce and share valuable agricultural and ecological knowledge in real time. Proof-of-concept data illustrates opportunities to spatially and temporally track and respond to challenges related to climate, crop disease and pests. Such work expounds how smallholder farmers are a source of largely untapped ecological and agronomic expert knowledge that can, and should, be harnessed to address issues of future agricultural resilience and food system sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Davies
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Muki Haklay
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK
| | - Timothy Kiprutto
- Prosperity Co-Lab Africa and British Institute in Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Megan Laws
- Department of Anthropology, London School of Economics, London, UK
| | - Jerome Lewis
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Samuel Lunn-Rockliffe
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jaqueline McGlade
- Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marcos Moreu
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Wilson Kipkore
- School of Natural Resource Management, Department of Forestry and Wood Science, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya
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Satyshur CD, Evans EC, Forsberg BM, Evans TA, Blair R. Determining Minnesota bee species' distributions and phenologies with the help of participatory science. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16146. [PMID: 38025759 PMCID: PMC10656906 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Minnesota Bee Atlas project contributed new information about bee distributions, phenologies, and community structure by mobilizing participatory science volunteers to document bees statewide. Volunteers submitted iNaturalist (©2016 California Academy of Sciences) photograph observations, monitored nest-traps for tunnel-nesting bees, and conducted roadside observational bumble bee surveys. By pairing research scientists and participatory science volunteers, we overcame geographic and temporal challenges to document the presence, phenologies, and abundances of species. Minnesota Bee Atlas project observations included new state records for Megachile inimica, Megachile frugalis, Megachile sculpturalis, Osmia georgica, Stelis permaculata, and Bombus nevadensis, nesting phenology for 17 species, a new documentation of bivoltinism for Megachile relativa in Minnesota, and over 500 observations of the endangered species Bombus affinis. We also expanded known ranges for 16 bee species compared with specimens available from the University of Minnesota (UMN) Insect Collection. Surveys with standardized effort across the state found ecological province associations for six tunnel-nesting species and lower bumble bee abundance in the Prairie Parkland ecological province than the Laurentian Mixed Forest or Eastern Broadleaf Forest ecological provinces, indicating potential benefit of a focus on bumble bee habitat management in the Prairie Parkland. Landcover analysis found associations for four tunnel-nesting species, as well as a possible association of B. affinis with developed areas. These data can inform management decisions affecting pollinator conservation and recovery of endangered species. By engaging over 2,500 project volunteers and other iNaturalist users, we also promoted conservation action for pollinators through our educational programs and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen D. Satyshur
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Elaine C. Evans
- University of Minnesota Extension, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Britt M. Forsberg
- University of Minnesota Extension, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Thea A. Evans
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Robert Blair
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
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Aridor K, Dvir M, Tsybulsky D, Ben-Zvi D. Living the DReaM: The interrelations between statistical, scientific and nature of science uncertainty articulations through citizen science. Instr Sci 2023:1-34. [PMID: 37362860 PMCID: PMC10115378 DOI: 10.1007/s11251-023-09626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Responsible citizenship and sound decision-making in today's information age necessitate an appreciation of the role of uncertainty in the process of generating data-based scientific knowledge. The latter calls for coordinating between different types of uncertainties, related to three types of relevant reasoning: statistical, scientific, and nature of science uncertainties. This article examines separately the uncertainties that young students articulate as they engage in activities designed to concurrently foster all three types of reasoning, and also explores how these different types can interrelate. The context of Citizen Science is particularly suited for this goal, providing a unique pedagogical opportunity for learning scientific content by engaging learners in authentic scientific practices, including data analysis. Based on literature from the three fields of statistics, science and nature of science education, we offer an integrative framework, Deterministic Relativistic and Middle ground (DReaM), which consists of nine sub-categories of uncertainty articulations. We utilize it to analyze an instrumental case study of a pair of middle school students' (ages 13 and 14) participation in a pilot study of an interdisciplinary extended learning sequence, as part of the Radon Citizen Science Project. The results of an interpretative microgenetic analysis identified all nine DReaM uncertainty articulations sub-categories. These are illustrated in the Findings section with key scenes from the pair's participation. The discussion depicts how these sub-categories manifested in this particular case study and suggests interrelations between them in a more extended depiction of the DReaM framework. We conclude with the pedagogical implications of the extended framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michal Dvir
- Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Kobayashi S, Maldonado JE, Gaete A, Araya I, Aguado-Norese C, Cumplido N, Díaz S, Espinoza A, Fernández E, Gajardo F, González-Ordenes F, Hauyon K, Maldonado P, Maldonado R, Pochet I, Riveros A, Sandoval P, Sepúlveda-González A, Stuardo C, Tapia-Reyes P, Thornton C, Undurraga S, Varas M, Valdivieso C, Gutiérrez RA, Orellana A, Montecino M, Maass A, González M, Allende ML, Hodar C, Irles P. DNA sequencing in the classroom: complete genome sequence of two earwig (Dermaptera; Insecta) species. Biol Res 2023; 56:6. [PMID: 36797803 PMCID: PMC9935246 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00414-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite representing the largest fraction of animal life, the number of insect species whose genome has been sequenced is barely in the hundreds. The order Dermaptera (the earwigs) suffers from a lack of genomic information despite its unique position as one of the basally derived insect groups and its importance in agroecosystems. As part of a national educational and outreach program in genomics, a plan was formulated to engage the participation of high school students in a genome sequencing project. Students from twelve schools across Chile were instructed to capture earwig specimens in their geographical area, to identify them and to provide material for genome sequencing to be carried out by themselves in their schools. RESULTS The school students collected specimens from two cosmopolitan earwig species: Euborellia annulipes (Fam. Anisolabididae) and Forficula auricularia (Fam. Forficulidae). Genomic DNA was extracted and, with the help of scientific teams that traveled to the schools, was sequenced using nanopore sequencers. The sequence data obtained for both species was assembled and annotated. We obtained genome sizes of 1.18 Gb (F. auricularia) and 0.94 Gb (E. annulipes) with the number of predicted protein coding genes being 31,800 and 40,000, respectively. Our analysis showed that we were able to capture a high percentage (≥ 93%) of conserved proteins indicating genomes that are useful for comparative and functional analysis. We were also able to characterize structural elements such as repetitive sequences and non-coding RNA genes. Finally, functional categories of genes that are overrepresented in each species suggest important differences in the process underlying the formation of germ cells, and modes of reproduction between them, features that are one of the distinguishing biological properties that characterize these two distant families of Dermaptera. CONCLUSIONS This work represents an unprecedented instance where the scientific and lay community have come together to collaborate in a genome sequencing project. The versatility and accessibility of nanopore sequencers was key to the success of the initiative. We were able to obtain full genome sequences of two important and widely distributed species of insects which had not been analyzed at this level previously. The data made available by the project should illuminate future studies on the Dermaptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanae Kobayashi
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Jonathan E. Maldonado
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.412179.80000 0001 2191 5013Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 9170022 Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis Gaete
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490 Santiago, Chile
| | - Ingrid Araya
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.512263.1Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Sergio Livingstone 1007, 8380494 Independencia, Santiago Chile
| | - Constanza Aguado-Norese
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490 Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Cumplido
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián Díaz
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Alonso Espinoza
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.412848.30000 0001 2156 804XFacultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Edelmira Fernández
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Gajardo
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe González-Ordenes
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Khantati Hauyon
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490 Santiago, Chile
| | - Piedad Maldonado
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Maldonado
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.412848.30000 0001 2156 804XFacultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Isabel Pochet
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.7870.80000 0001 2157 0406Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Aníbal Riveros
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.424112.00000 0001 0943 9683ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Nucleus for the Development of Super Adaptable Plants (MN-SAP), Santiago, Chile
| | - Paula Sandoval
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.7870.80000 0001 2157 0406Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ailynne Sepúlveda-González
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490 Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Stuardo
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490 Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Tapia-Reyes
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.7870.80000 0001 2157 0406Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Thornton
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.7870.80000 0001 2157 0406Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Soledad Undurraga
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.412199.60000 0004 0487 8785Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Macarena Varas
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Valdivieso
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.7870.80000 0001 2157 0406Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ariel Orellana
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.412848.30000 0001 2156 804XFacultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martín Montecino
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.412848.30000 0001 2156 804XFacultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Maass
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Departamento de Ingeniería Matemática, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio González
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490 Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel L. Allende
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003 Santiago, Chile ,grid.443909.30000 0004 0385 4466Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Hodar
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, 7800003, Santiago, Chile. .,INTA, Universidad de Chile, 7830490, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Paula Irles
- Institute of Agri-food, Animal and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de O´Higgins, Rancagua, Chile.
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Onion AM, Smith AJ, Duffy BT. New York State's WAVE Method - Evaluation of a Method for Water Quality Monitoring by Citizen Scientists using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Environ Manage 2023; 71:432-438. [PMID: 36471001 PMCID: PMC9892146 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01753-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has developed a robust citizen science macroinvertebrate sampling method. The metric relies on the presence and not the absence of key macroinvertebrates and therefore is resistant to collection and sorting errors. It identifies unimpaired streams with high confidence (0.1% type 1 errors) and at a reasonable efficiency compared to NYSDEC's multimetric index of biological integrity (54%). We rank remaining stream samples for further investigation using a calculated probability of impairment. This method is valuable as a tool for large monitoring programs with limited resources for quality assurance checks. The value of this method goes beyond data collection, however, as data of known quality is an effective communication tool between citizen scientists and state regulatory agencies and/or local decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alene M Onion
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, USA.
| | - Alexander J Smith
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, USA
| | - Brian T Duffy
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, USA
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Stanton T, Chico G, Carr E, Cook S, Gomes RL, Heard E, Law A, Wilson HL, Johnson M. Planet Patrolling: A citizen science brand audit of anthropogenic litter in the context of national legislation and international policy. J Hazard Mater 2022; 436:129118. [PMID: 35576666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic Litter (AL) is ubiquitous in distribution and diverse in type and impact. Citizen science AL clean-ups engage citizens with the environment and have the potential to generate data that can inform policy. Here we present a detailed citizen science survey of AL across freshwater, terrestrial, and coastal environments of the United Kingdom (UK), coordinated by the not-for-profit Planet Patrol throughout 2020. Key materials, industries, brands, and parent companies associated with AL are identified. Plastic dominated AL (63%), followed by metal (14%), and composite materials (12%). The majority of AL (56%) had been used as beverage containers and non-beverage packaging, and 38.8% of AL was branded. Of the branded AL, 26% was associated with The Coca-Cola Company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and PepsiCo. These three companies were associated with significantly more branded litter than any other. We place these data in the context of upcoming UK legislation and the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) statements of the companies associated with the majority of the recorded litter. Knowledge gaps and recommendations for AL surveying are made, and the focus of corporate and government actions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stanton
- Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom; School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell NG25 0QF, United Kingdom.
| | - Guaduneth Chico
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell NG25 0QF, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sarah Cook
- School of Biosciences, Division of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham, C23 The Gateway Building, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Louise Gomes
- Food, Water, Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | | | - Antonia Law
- School of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
| | - Hazel L Wilson
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Johnson
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
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Williams CR, Burnell SM, Rogers M, Flies EJ, Baldock KL. Nature-Based Citizen Science as a Mechanism to Improve Human Health in Urban Areas. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 19:68. [PMID: 35010326 PMCID: PMC8751081 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The world is becoming increasingly urbanised, impacting human interactions with natural environments (NEs). NEs take a number of forms, ranging from pristine, modified, to built NEs, which are common in many urban areas. NEs may include nature-based solutions, such as introducing nature elements and biological processes into cities that are used to solve problems created by urbanisation. Whilst urbanisation has negative impacts on human health, impacting mental and physical wellbeing through a number of mechanisms, exposure to NEs may improve human health and wellbeing. Here, we review the mechanisms by which health can be improved by exposure to NEs, as explained by Stress Reduction Theory, Attention Restoration Theory, and the 'Old Friends'/biodiversity hypothesis. Such exposures may have physiological and immunological benefits, mediated through endocrine pathways and altered microbiota. Citizen Science, which often causes exposure to NEs and social activity, is being increasingly used to not only collect scientific data but also to engage individuals and communities. Despite being a named component of scientific and environmental strategies of governments, to our knowledge, the intrinsic health benefits of Citizen Science in NEs do not form part of public health policy. We contend that Citizen Science programs that facilitate exposure to NEs in urban areas may represent an important public health policy advance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R. Williams
- UniSA Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (S.M.B.); (M.R.)
| | - Sophie M. Burnell
- UniSA Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (S.M.B.); (M.R.)
| | - Michelle Rogers
- UniSA Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (S.M.B.); (M.R.)
| | - Emily J. Flies
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Katherine L. Baldock
- UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
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9
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Schaaf J, Neff M, Scheidt J, Steglich M, Storf H. Citizen Science in Human Medicine and the Use of Software-Systems: A Rapid Scoping Review. Stud Health Technol Inform 2021; 283:172-179. [PMID: 34545833 DOI: 10.3233/shti210557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Citizen science allows involving interested citizen in the entire research process in science. In the past, various citizen science projects have been performed in different research fields, especially in human medicine. We conducted a rapid scoping review to determine which citizen projects in human medicine already used software-based systems to engage citizens in the research process. Furthermore, we analysed which of the software-systems are publicly available, especially in the field of rare diseases, how citizens can participate using those tools and whether the usability was rated by the participants. To get insights for our project "SelEe (Seltene Erkrankungen bürgerwissenschaftlich erforschen)", which is a citizen science project in rare diseases funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), we aimed to identify projects in this research area. We searched PubMed for articles between 2011 and 2021 and performed a title- and abstract screening, as well as a full-text screening. Finally, 12 studies were identified in different research areas like public health, genetic research and infectious diseases. We could not identify any study directly associated with rare diseases. None of the studies investigated usability of those systems. Furthermore, five publicly available citizen science software-systems were identified. Three of them are general systems that allow creating, operating, managing citizen science projects and including citizens in the research process. In further investigations, we will check and compare these systems, if they are appropriate for use in our SelEe-project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Schaaf
- Medical Informatics Group, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michaela Neff
- Medical Informatics Group, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Joerg Scheidt
- Institute of Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Hof, Hof, Germany
| | - Michael Steglich
- Institute of Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Hof, Hof, Germany
| | - Holger Storf
- Medical Informatics Group, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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10
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Lin YP, Anthony J, Mukhtar H, Lin CM. A spatial prioritization method for identifying potential eco-risk distributions of heavy metals in soil and birds. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021; 220:112383. [PMID: 34082242 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Geochemical approaches are popular for evaluations based on heavy metal concentrations in sediments or soils for eco-risk assessment. This study proposes a systematic geochemical approach (SymGeo) to explore six heavy metals in topsoils and bird tissues and organs of the target birds. We assume that the proposed approach based on field-collected heavy metals in topsoils and feathers can predict the areas with the potential risk of the heavy metals in birds. Finite mixture distribution modeling (FMDM) was used to identify background values of the heavy metal concentrations in topsoil. A spatial enrichment factor (EF), potential contamination index (PCI), contamination degree (Cod), and potential ecological risk index (PRI) based on FMDM results for topsoil, and a potential risk index (PRIbird) of heavy metals in the birds, were utilized for systematic prioritization of high eco-risk areas. Using multiple EF, PRI, and Cod results and multiple PRI-based maps of the heavy metals in feathers, we systematically prioritized risk areas where there is a high potential for heavy metal contamination in the birds. Our results indicate that heavy metal concentrations in the feather, liver, and kidney are not spatially cross-autocorrelated but are statistically significantly correlated with some heavy metals in topsoil due to external and internal depositions. Further, multiple EF, Cod, and RI distributions for topsoil, along with the PRI of the feather, showed that adequate coverages for potential risk for birds were greater than 71.05% in the top 30% and 84.69% in the top 20% potential eco-risk priority area of heavy metals in bird liver and kidney. Hence, our proposed approach suggests that assessments of heavy metals in bird feathers and topsoils without bird organs can be utilized to identify spatially high-risk areas. The proposed approach could be improved by incorporating water and sediment samples to enhance the crowdsourcing and the species-specific data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Pin Lin
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Johnathen Anthony
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hussnain Mukhtar
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Ming Lin
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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11
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Moro A, Beaurepaire A, Dall'Olio R, Rogenstein S, Blacquière T, Dahle B, de Miranda JR, Dietemann V, Locke B, Licón Luna RM, Le Conte Y, Neumann P. Using Citizen Science to Scout Honey Bee Colonies That Naturally Survive Varroa destructor Infestations. Insects 2021; 12:536. [PMID: 34207891 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Citizen Science is a valuable resource that can substantially contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. However, its use in honey bee research has remained minimal. The Survivors Task Force of the COLOSS association created and promoted an online surveying tool with the aim of identifying potential cases of Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, populations that are surviving infestations with ectoparasitic mites Varroa destructor without control measures by beekeepers. The reports suggest that there could be twice as many naturally surviving colonies worldwide than are currently known. The survey also shows that citizens can be readily engaged through social media, personal networks, and promotional campaigns to gather valuable and previously inaccessible data. These reports of surviving honey bee colonies will now be validated through the new initiative Honey Bee Watch, a global and multi-year Citizen Science project founded to connect citizens, beekeepers, and scientists. This will enable to increase scientific knowledge, mitigate honey bee colony losses, and develop education and conservation campaigns. Abstract Citizen Science contributes significantly to the conservation of biodiversity, but its application to honey bee research has remained minimal. Even though certain European honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations are known to naturally survive Varroa destructor infestations, it is unclear how widespread or common such populations are. Such colonies are highly valuable for investigating the mechanisms enabling colony survival, as well as for tracking the conservation status of free-living honey bees. Here, we use targeted Citizen Science to identify potentially new cases of managed or free-living A. mellifera populations that survive V. destructor without mite control strategies. In 2018, a survey containing 20 questions was developed, translated into 13 languages, and promoted at beekeeping conferences and online. After three years, 305 reports were collected from 28 countries: 241 from managed colonies and 64 from free-living colonies. The collected data suggest that there could be twice as many naturally surviving colonies worldwide than are currently known. Further, online and personal promotion seem to be key for successful recruitment of participants. Although the survivor status of these colonies still needs to be confirmed, the volume of reports and responses already illustrate how effectively Citizen Science can contribute to bee research by massively increasing generated data, broadening opportunities for comparative research, and fostering collaboration between scientists, beekeepers, and citizens. The success of this survey spurred the development of a more advanced Citizen Science platform, Honey Bee Watch, that will enable a more accurate reporting, confirmation, and monitoring of surviving colonies, and strengthen the ties between science, stakeholders, and citizens to foster the protection of both free-living and managed honey bees.
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del Cañizo C, Cristóbal AB, Barbosa L, Revuelta G, Haas S, Victoria M, Brocklehurst M. Promoting citizen science in the energy sector: Generation Solar, an open database of small-scale solar photovoltaic installations. Open Res Eur 2021; 1:21. [PMID: 37645130 PMCID: PMC10445918 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13069.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Citizen science is becoming an effective approach in building a new relationship between science and society, in which the desire of citizens to participate actively in knowledge production meets the needs of researchers. A citizen science initiative dealing with the development of photovoltaics (PV) is presented. To generate a "responsible" initiative, the research question has been designed collectively from the beginning, involving diverse actors in order to encourage creativity while addressing their interests and concerns. The result has been called Generation Solar. It aims at co-creating an open database of PV installations including their technical characteristics, and an online map for visualizing them. The initiative responds to a clear scientific demand; an important drawback for researchers working on energy modelling and predictions of production lays precisely in the lack of information about these installations' locations and characteristics. The initiative invites citizens, companies and public institutions with a PV installation to collaborate by providing such data. Data will follow the format of Open Power System Data in order to be fully exploitable by the scientific community and society. The success of the initiative will rely on the capacity to mobilize citizens and register the largest possible number of installations worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos del Cañizo
- Instituto de Energía Solar, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Cristóbal
- Instituto de Energía Solar, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luisa Barbosa
- Centro de Estudios de Ciencia, Comunicación y Sociedad, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gema Revuelta
- Centro de Estudios de Ciencia, Comunicación y Sociedad, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marta Victoria
- Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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13
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Hinojosa L, Swisher E, Garneau N. The Organization of Informal Pathways into STEM: Designing towards Equity. Int J Sci Educ 2021; 43:737-759. [PMID: 34483497 PMCID: PMC8415430 DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2021.1882010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The goal of inclusive design to promote participation of marginalized groups in science is ubiquitous across informal science education, and in the growing field of citizen science. Yet the aspiration of equality in the sciences continues to be met with challenges. Despite decades of educational research studying the barriers of participation in science, progress has not yet reached expectation. In this paper we apply an ethnographic approach to examine outcomes of a diversification effort of a citizen science program in a museum-based genetics lab. We analyze data from interviews, artifacts and observations with participants from the program inside the lab. We share findings about how being intentional while designing towards equity resulted in a more diverse and accessible program while giving the participants the opportunity to build knowledge of, and skills in, genetics in an inclusive space. This paper concludes with findings on barriers to participation among individuals from underrepresented communities, and how relationships with diverse leaders can facilitate boundary crossings, foster positive identities in sciences and beget a new generation of diverse scientists.
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Miranda AM, Ingram M, Nuessle TM, Santorico SA, Garneau NL. Factors affecting detection of bimodal sour-savory mixture and inter-individual umami taste perception. Food Qual Prefer 2021; 89:104147. [PMID: 33311858 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.104147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
While basic taste interactions have been the subject of many research studies, there is one combination where data is limited in the literature: sour and umami. This combination is universal in culinary preparations and of key interest to the food industry. Therefore, the primary goal of the present study is to assess how increasing concentrations of acidity (citric acid) affect, if at all, the intensity of a constant concentration of umami (monosodium glutamate, MSG). The secondary goal is to investigate other possible factors in umami taste perception. Here, a crowdsourced cohort of 734 individuals (age range 8-81) tasted and rated the intensity of 50 mM MSG alone, and in combination with citric acid at varying concentrations (1.25 mM, 6.25 mM, 31.25 mM). Participants were also genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs34160967 in the T1R1 gene. The results show a significant decrease in the intensity perception of umami as sour concentration increases (low: p = 0.005, medium: p < 0.001, high: p < 0.001). Situational factors such as participant hunger level and time since last eating also have a significant effect on umami intensity perception. Neither the biological factors of sex, age, and ancestry appear to play a role in umami perception, nor does variation in gene TAS1R1 at rs34160967. These new data contribute to the growing field of taste and sensory interaction by giving evidence that sour suppresses umami taste perception in bi-model samples.
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15
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Baltrusaitis K, Reed C, Sewalk K, Brownstein JS, Crawley AW, Biggerstaff M. Health-care seeking behavior for respiratory illness among Flu Near You participants in the United States during the 2015-16 through 2018-19 influenza season. J Infect Dis 2020; 226:270-277. [PMID: 32761050 PMCID: PMC9400452 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Flu Near You (FNY) is an online participatory syndromic surveillance system that collects health-related information. In this article, we summarized the healthcare-seeking behavior of FNY participants who reported influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms. Methods We applied inverse probability weighting to calculate age-adjusted estimates of the percentage of FNY participants in the United States who sought health care for ILI symptoms during the 2015–2016 through 2018–2019 influenza season and compared seasonal trends across different demographic and regional subgroups, including age group, sex, census region, and place of care using adjusted χ 2 tests. Results The overall age-adjusted percentage of FNY participants who sought healthcare for ILI symptoms varied by season and ranged from 22.8% to 35.6%. Across all seasons, healthcare seeking was highest for the <18 and 65+ years age groups, women had a greater percentage compared with men, and the South census region had the largest percentage while the West census region had the smallest percentage. Conclusions The percentage of FNY participants who sought healthcare for ILI symptoms varied by season, geographical region, age group, and sex. FNY compliments existing surveillance systems and informs estimates of influenza-associated illness by adding important real-time insights into healthcare-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Baltrusaitis
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carrie Reed
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kara Sewalk
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - John S Brownstein
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115 United States; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, United States; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Matthew Biggerstaff
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Zangaro F, Schifano V, Specchia V, Tzafesta E, Pinna M. A new extralimital sighting of Monachusmonachus (Hermann, 1779) in the Aquatina di Frigole NATURA 2000 site (IT9150003) beach (Salento peninsula, Apulia Region, Italy) after two decades: strategies for conservation are needed. Biodivers Data J 2020; 8:e53950. [PMID: 36760334 PMCID: PMC9848609 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.8.e53950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal Monachusmonachus (Hermann, 1779) is the most endangered pinniped in the world. In addition, its presence has not been documented for about two decades in the Apulian Region and about 10 years along the Italian coastline. In this work, we aim to describe an exceptional and well-documented observation of a subadult specimen of Monachusmonachus occurring during the last days of January 2020 in the Salento peninsula (Apulia Region, Italy) for the first time after two decades of local extinction in the south-western Adriatic Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Zangaro
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Vincenzo Schifano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Valeria Specchia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Eftychia Tzafesta
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Maurizio Pinna
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Research Centre of Fishery and Aquaculture of Acquatina di Frigole, University of SalentoLecceItaly
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Silver JD, Spriggs K, Haberle S, Katelaris CH, Newbigin EJ, Lampugnani ER. Crowd-sourced allergic rhinitis symptom data: The influence of environmental and demographic factors. Sci Total Environ 2020; 705:135147. [PMID: 31841904 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Allergic Rhinitis (AR) affects over half a billion people worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 5 individuals in developed countries. Although ambient pollen exposure is a causal factor in AR, the symptom-exposure relationship is typically not studied in the broader community but in small, well-characterised cohorts drawn from clinical populations. To identify relationships between AR symptoms in the community and a range of environmental factors, we used a database containing over 96,000 symptom score reports collected over a 3-year period (2014-2016) through freely available smartphone apps released in two Australian cities, Melbourne and Canberra. Ambient pollen levels and symptom scores were strongly related, with grass pollen explaining most of the symptom variation. Other factors correlated with higher symptom scores included temperature (R > 0.73) and wind speed (R > 0.75). In general, worse symptom scores were reported by younger participants, women, and those who had taken medication for AR in the preceding 24 h. The strength of this relationship varied between the two cities. Smartphone-based symptom surveys offer a cost-effective means of studying real-world risk factors for AR in a broader 'extra-clinical' population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Silver
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kymble Spriggs
- Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Allergy and Immunology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon Haberle
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Edward J Newbigin
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Edwin R Lampugnani
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Herodotou C, Aristeidou M, Miller G, Ballard H, Robinson L. What Do We Know about Young Volunteers? An Exploratory Study of Participation in Zooniverse. Citiz Sci 2020; 5:2. [PMID: 35795590 PMCID: PMC7612984 DOI: 10.5334/cstp.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Citizen Science (CS) is an increasingly popular activity enacted either in the field or online. Volunteers participate in research activities such as data processing and analysis by, for example, identifying plants and animals. In this paper we examine young people's participation in online CS projects hosted on the Zooniverse platform. This is an exploratory study, the first of its kind that focuses on young people, mainly 16-19 years old. It uses data analytics and visualisation techniques to capture participation in online CS, and in particular to answer the following questions: (a) What does young people's participation look like in CS projects? (b) What Zooniverse projects do young people choose to participate in? and (3) What Zooniverse projects do young people choose together? Findings revealed five distinct engagement profiles characterising young people's participation and identified certain projects as been more popular across participants. Implications for the design of online citizen science projects targeting young people are discussed.
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Vera L, Malivel G, Michanowicz D, Kang CM, Wylie S. Photopaper as a Tool for Community-Level Monitoring of Industrially Produced Hydrogen Sulfide and Corrosion. Atmos Environ X 2020; 5:100049. [PMID: 32596661 PMCID: PMC7319185 DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2019.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Scientific instrumentation driven by academic, military, and industrial applications tends to be high cost, designed for expert use, and "black boxed". Community-led citizen science (CLCS) is creating different research instruments with different measurement goals and processes. This paper identifies four design attributes for CLCS tools: affordability, accessibility, builds community efficacy and provides actionable data through validating a community method for monitoring the neurotoxic and corrosive gas Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). For $1 per sample, the semi-quantitative method provides an affordable and easily interpretable data for communities to compare H2S concentrations and silver corrosion in their home environments to those in a major municipal sewage treatment plant. H2S is a leading cause of workplace injury in the U.S. and commonly found in oil and gas production, sewage treatment plants, and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Communities neighboring such sources tend to be socio-economically marginalized with little access to scientific or political resources. Consequently, health risks and material degradation from corrosion are well studied in workplaces while community exposures are under-studied. Existing commercial H2S detection methods are prohibitively expensive for low-income communities and often require the support of professional scientists. This paper describes a simple and inexpensive semi-quantitative H2S measurement method that uses photopaper. Photopaper passively measures H2S as its silver halide layer linearly reacts with H2S between concentrations of 60 ppb to 1 ppm, discoloring the paper from white to brown. We develop a colorimetric scale for this discoloration for visual estimation of H2S concentration and overall corrosion. The scale is based on comparing silver sulfide (Ag2S) measured by Purafil Corrosion Classification Coupons (CCCs) and H2S concentrations measured with the industry standard tool a Jerome Meter to silver and sulfur bound to the photopaper as measured with X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). We conduct our validation studies in a major municipal sewage treatment plant to provide real-world occupational benchmarks for comparison to community results. This community science method is affordable, accessible, designed to build collective efficacy and to create actionable data to flag the need for follow-up research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Vera
- Northeastern University, 900 Renaissance Park, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | | | - Drew Michanowicz
- T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Choong-Min Kang
- T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Sara Wylie
- Northeastern University, 900 Renaissance Park, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
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Rappold A, Hano M, Prince S, Wei L, Huang S, Baghdikian C, Stearns B, Gao X, Hoshiko S, Cascio W, Diaz‐Sanchez D, Hubbell B. Smoke Sense Initiative Leverages Citizen Science to Address the Growing Wildfire-Related Public Health Problem. Geohealth 2019; 3:443-457. [PMID: 32159029 PMCID: PMC7038881 DOI: 10.1029/2019gh000199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Smoke Sense is a citizen science project with investigative, educational, and action-oriented objectives at the intersection of wildland fire smoke and public health. Participants engage with a smartphone application to explore current and forecast visualizations of air quality, learn about how to protect health from wildfire smoke, and record their smoke experiences, health symptoms, and behaviors taken to reduce their exposures to smoke. Through participation in the project, individuals engage in observing changes in their environment and recording changes in their health, thus facilitating progression on awareness of health effects of air pollution and adoption of desired health-promoting behaviors. Participants can also view what others are reporting. Data from the pilot season (1 August 2017 to 7 January 2018; 5,598 downloads) suggest that there is a clear demand for personally relevant data during wildfire episodes motivated by recognition of environmental hazard and the personal concern for health. However, while participants shared clear perceptions of the environmental hazard and health risks in general, they did not consistently recognize their own personal health risk. The engagement in health protective behavior was driven in response to symptoms rather than as preventive courses of action. We also observed clear differences in the adoption likelihood of various health protective behaviors attributed to barriers and perceived benefits of these actions. As users experience a greater number and severity of symptoms, the perceived benefits of taking health protective actions exceeded the costs associated with the barriers and thus increased adoption of those actions. Based on pilot season data, we summarize key insights which may improve current health risk communications in nudging individuals toward health protective behavior; there is a need to increase personal awareness of risk and compelling evidence that health protective behaviors are beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.G. Rappold
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - M.C. Hano
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - S. Prince
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - L. Wei
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | | | - C. Baghdikian
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - B. Stearns
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - X. Gao
- Sequoia Foundation, La JollaSan DiegoCAUSA
| | - S. Hoshiko
- Environmental Health Investigations BranchDepartment of Public HealthRichmondCAUSA
| | - W.E. Cascio
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - D. Diaz‐Sanchez
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
| | - B. Hubbell
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health DivisionResearch Triangle ParkDurhamNCUSA
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Eritja R, Ruiz-Arrondo I, Delacour-Estrella S, Schaffner F, Álvarez-Chachero J, Bengoa M, Puig MÁ, Melero-Alcíbar R, Oltra A, Bartumeus F. First detection of Aedes japonicus in Spain: an unexpected finding triggered by citizen science. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:53. [PMID: 30674335 PMCID: PMC6344982 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3317-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now. RESULTS Here, we report the first detection of Ae. japonicus in Spain, at its southernmost location in Europe. This finding was triggered by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. In June 2018, a citizen sent a report via the Mosquito Alert app from the municipality of Siero in the Asturias region (NW Spain) containing pictures of a female mosquito compatible with Ae. japonicus. Further information was requested from the participant, who subsequently provided several larvae and adults that could be classified as Ae. japonicus. In July, a field mission confirmed its presence at the original site and in several locations up to 9 km away, suggesting a long-time establishment. The strong media impact in Asturias derived from the discovery raised local participation in the Mosquito Alert project, resulting in further evidence from surrounding areas. CONCLUSIONS Whilst in the laboratory Ae. japonicus is a competent vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, to date only West Nile virus is a concern based on field evidence. Nonetheless, this virus has yet not been detected in Asturias so the vectorial risk is currently considered low. The opportunity and effectiveness of combining citizen-sourced data to traditional surveillance methods are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Eritja
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Center for Rickettsioses and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Sarah Delacour-Estrella
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Francis Schaffner
- Francis Schaffner Consultancy, 4125 Riehen, Switzerland
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, VetSuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Mikel Bengoa
- Consultoria Moscard Tigre, 07013 Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares Spain
| | | | | | - Aitana Oltra
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Spain
| | - Frederic Bartumeus
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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22
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Krajewski M. [Not Available]. Ber Wiss 2018; 41:383-386. [PMID: 32495428 DOI: 10.1002/bewi.201801917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Krajewski
- Universität Basel, Departement Künste, Medien, Philosophie, Holbeinstr. 12, CH-4051, Basel
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23
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Sandhaus S, Kaufmann D, Ramirez-Andreotta M. Public Participation, Trust and Data Sharing: Gardens as Hubs for Citizen Science and Environmental Health Literacy Efforts. Int J Sci Educ B Commun Public Engagem 2018; 9:54-71. [PMID: 31485378 PMCID: PMC6726431 DOI: 10.1080/21548455.2018.1542752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Gardenroots: A Citizen Science Project (2015) is the product of a needs assessment, revealing environmental quality concerns of gardeners living near hazardous waste or resource extraction activities. Participants were trained, collected garden samples for analysis, and later received their data visualized (individual and aggregated) via community events or mail. This article describes participant motivations, changes in knowledge and efficacy, and whether these depend on the mode of data sharing and visualization. Motivations were internal, and self-efficacy increased, while knowledge and satisfaction were higher in event attendees due to increased researcher contact. This reveals importance of data-sharing events, data visualizations, and participatory research processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana Sandhaus
- Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science,
University of Arizona
| | | | - Monica Ramirez-Andreotta
- Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science,
University of Arizona
- College of Public Health’s Division of Community,
Environment, & Policy, University of Arizona
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24
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Hedvall PO, Rydeman B, Granholm S, Andersson M. Co-Constructing Universal Design in Citizen Science Workshops. Stud Health Technol Inform 2018; 256:214-222. [PMID: 30371477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports on a series of workshops that took place at two Swedish museums during 2017. The workshops were inspired by a citizen science approach, where the participants were not only on the receiving end but also active in producing new knowledge. The importance of turning to peoples' lived perspectives are often brought forward as crucial to understanding how inclusion and exclusion are played out in real life. The study aimed to introduce and discuss Universal Design (UD) of museum exhibitions, by engaging visitors and staff in bringing forward content for joint discussions. As there is an ongoing shift from traditional work on accessibility towards UD taking place in Sweden right now, the study was also part of raising the awareness of UD within the disability movement and at the museums. Museum visitors representing different disability organizations worked together with museum staff in photo exercises, supervised by two researchers. In total, 31 participants took part in six three-hour workshops. The workshop format encompassed three steps. First, one of the researchers introduced UD, after which the participants were divided into mixed groups with both visitors and staff. Their task was to take photos of museum features that were in line with, or in conflict with, UD. At the end of the workshop, all groups gathered to discuss what they had found. In this paper, we tell about the examples the participants brought forward and the ensuing joint discussions, and discuss the further implications for UD.
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25
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Loftis D, Forrest D, Katragadda S, Spencer K, Organski T, Nguyen C, Rhee S. StormSense: A New Integrated Network of IoT Water Level Sensors in the Smart Cities of Hampton Roads, VA. Mar Technol Soc J 2018; 52:10.4031/MTSJ.52.2.7. [PMID: 31092957 PMCID: PMC6512834 DOI: 10.4031/mtsj.52.2.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Propagation of cost-effective water level sensors powered through the Internet of Things (IoT) has expanded the available offerings of ingestible data streams at the disposal of modern smart cities. StormSense is an IoT-enabled inundation forecasting research initiative and an active participant in the Global City Teams Challenge seeking to enhance flood preparedness in the smart cities of Hampton Roads, VA for flooding resulting from storm surge, rain, and tides. In this study, we present the results of the new StormSense water level sensors to help establish the "regional resilience monitoring network" noted as a key recommendation from the Intergovernmental Pilot Project. To accomplish this, the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency's Tidewatch tidal forecast system is being used as a starting point to integrate the extant (NOAA) and new (USGS and StormSense) water level sensors throughout the region, and demonstrate replicability of the solution across the cities of Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach within Hampton Roads, VA. StormSense's network employs a mix of ultrasonic and radar remote sensing technologies to record water levels during 2017 Hurricanes Jose and Maria. These data were used to validate the inundation predictions of a street-level hydrodynamic model (5-m resolution), while the water levels from the sensors and the model were concomitantly validated by a temporary water level sensor deployed by the USGS in the Hague, and crowd-sourced GPS maximum flooding extent observations from the Sea Level Rise app, developed in Norfolk, VA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Loftis
- Center for Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, U.S.A
| | - David Forrest
- Department of Physical Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, U.S.A
| | - Sridhar Katragadda
- City of Virginia Beach, Department of Communications and Information Technology, 2405 Courthouse Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23456 U.S.A
| | - Kyle Spencer
- City of Norfolk, Department of Communications and Technology, 3661 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502, U.S.A
| | - Tammie Organski
- City of Newport News, Department of Information Technology, 2400 Washington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607, U.S.A
| | - Cuong Nguyen
- Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, U.S.A
| | - Sokwoo Rhee
- Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20899, U.S.A
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26
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Dick DM. Rethinking the Way We Do Research: The Benefits of Community-Engaged, Citizen Science Approaches and Nontraditional Collaborators. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:1849-1856. [PMID: 29028120 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
There is tremendous opportunity for basic scientists to enhance the impact of our research by engaging more deeply with nontraditional partners and expanding the way we think about interdisciplinary research teams. These efforts can include more deeply engaging our participants, and the broader public, in our research; working with individuals from other fields to take a more active role in the dissemination and translation of our research; and working with collaborators from the arts and communication sciences to make our research more engaging and understandable. In this review, I provide an overview of our efforts along these lines in a project called Spit for Science (https://spit4science.vcu.edu/). This project draws from concepts central to community-engaged participatory research and citizen science. Although conducting research in this way involves a considerable time commitment, it has many potential benefits, including raising awareness about our research areas and findings; creating a public that is more connected to and aware of the importance of research, which can have potential implications for funding for science; creating new job opportunities for students; and increasing participation rates in our studies. By thinking creatively about how we conduct our research, and more broadly engaging diverse groups of individuals in the research process, we have the potential to significantly increase the reach and impact of our science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Dick
- Departments of Psychology and Human & Molecular Genetics, College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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27
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Suprayitno N, Narakusumo RP, von Rintelen T, Hendrich L, Balke M. Taxonomy and Biogeography without frontiers - WhatsApp, Facebook and smartphone digital photography let citizen scientists in more remote localities step out of the dark. Biodivers Data J 2017:e19938. [PMID: 29104436 PMCID: PMC5665057 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.5.e19938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Taxonomy and biogeography can benefit from citizen scientists. The use of social networking and open access cooperative publishing can easily connect naturalists even in more remote areas with in-country scientists and institutions, as well as those abroad. This enables taxonomic efforts without frontiers and at the same time adequate benefit sharing measures. New information We present new distribution and habitat data for diving beetles of Bali island, Indonesia, as a proof of concept. The species Hydaticusluczonicus Aubé, 1838 and Eretesgriseus (Fabricius, 1781) are reported from Bali for the first time. The total number of Dytiscidae species known from Bali is now 34.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raden Pramesa Narakusumo
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong, Indonesia
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28
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Fernández-Triana J, Buffam J, Beaudin M, Davis H, Ana Fernández-Galliano, Griffin E, Lin SY, McAulay MK, Richter R, Rodriguez F, Várkonyi G. An annotated and illustrated checklist of Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Greenland. Zookeys 2017:49-101. [PMID: 29200923 PMCID: PMC5672697 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.691.14491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from ten islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) and Greenland were studied based on 2,183 specimens deposited in collections. We report a total of 33 species in six genera, more than doubling the totals previously known. Most of the species (75.7%) have a distribution restricted to the Nearctic, with nine of those (27.3%) confirmed to be High Arctic endemics and another 10 species considered very likely to be High Arctic endemics as well – accounting for all of those, more than half of all species found are endemic to the region. The most diverse genera were Cotesia (10 species), Glyptapanteles (9 species), and Microplitis (7 species), representing 78.8% of the overall species diversity in the region. The six most frequently collected species comprised 84.7% of all examined specimens. The flight period for Microgastrinae in the High Arctic encompasses only two months, with activity peaking during the first half of July, when almost 40% of all available specimens were collected, and then plummeting in the first half to the end of August. Microgastrinae wasps from the High Arctic are currently known to parasitize eight species within four families of Lepidoptera: three species of Noctuidae, two each of Lymantridae and Nymphalidae, and one species of Pterophoridae. However, that information is very preliminary, as only six of the 33 species of microgastrines currently have associated host data. An annotated checklist, including photographs for 24 of the 33 species, is provided, as well as a key to all Microgastrinae genera present in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joel Buffam
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Melanie Beaudin
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Hannah Davis
- Institut für Biologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Shang-Yao Lin
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Megan K McAulay
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Robin Richter
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | | | - Gergely Várkonyi
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Natural Environment Centre, Lentiirantie 342 B, FI-88900 Kuhmo, Finland
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29
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Prudic KL, McFarland KP, Oliver JC, Hutchinson RA, Long EC, Kerr JT, Larrivée M. eButterfly: Leveraging Massive Online Citizen Science for Butterfly Consevation. Insects 2017; 8:insects8020053. [PMID: 28524117 PMCID: PMC5492067 DOI: 10.3390/insects8020053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Data collection, storage, analysis, visualization, and dissemination are changing rapidly due to advances in new technologies driven by computer science and universal access to the internet. These technologies and web connections place human observers front and center in citizen science-driven research and are critical in generating new discoveries and innovation in such fields as astronomy, biodiversity, and meteorology. Research projects utilizing a citizen science approach address scientific problems at regional, continental, and even global scales otherwise impossible for a single lab or even a small collection of academic researchers. Here we describe eButterfly an integrative checklist-based butterfly monitoring and database web-platform that leverages the skills and knowledge of recreational butterfly enthusiasts to create a globally accessible unified database of butterfly observations across North America. Citizen scientists, conservationists, policy makers, and scientists are using eButterfly data to better understand the biological patterns of butterfly species diversity and how environmental conditions shape these patterns in space and time. eButterfly in collaboration with thousands of butterfly enthusiasts has created a near real-time butterfly data resource producing tens of thousands of observations per year open to all to share and explore.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeffrey C Oliver
- Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Rebecca A Hutchinson
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
- Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Elizabeth C Long
- Daniel Smiley Research Center, Mohonk Preserve, New Paltz, NY 12561, USA.
| | - Jeremy T Kerr
- Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Maxim Larrivée
- Insectarium, Montreal Space for Life, Montreal, QC H1X 2B2, Canada.
- Institut de Research en Biologie Végétale, Montreal, QC H1X 2B2, Canada.
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30
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Silvertown J, Harvey M, Greenwood R, Dodd M, Rosewell J, Rebelo T, Ansine J, McConway K. Crowdsourcing the identification of organisms: A case-study of iSpot. Zookeys 2015:125-46. [PMID: 25685027 PMCID: PMC4319112 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.480.8803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate species identification is fundamental to biodiversity science, but the natural history skills required for this are neglected in formal education at all levels. In this paper we describe how the web application ispotnature.org and its sister site ispot.org.za (collectively, “iSpot”) are helping to solve this problem by combining learning technology with crowdsourcing to connect beginners with experts. Over 94% of observations submitted to iSpot receive a determination. External checking of a sample of 3,287 iSpot records verified > 92% of them. To mid 2014, iSpot crowdsourced the identification of 30,000 taxa (>80% at species level) in > 390,000 observations with a global community numbering > 42,000 registered participants. More than half the observations on ispotnature.org were named within an hour of submission. iSpot uses a unique, 9-dimensional reputation system to motivate and reward participants and to verify determinations. Taxon-specific reputation points are earned when a participant proposes an identification that achieves agreement from other participants, weighted by the agreers’ own reputation scores for the taxon. This system is able to discriminate effectively between competing determinations when two or more are proposed for the same observation. In 57% of such cases the reputation system improved the accuracy of the determination, while in the remainder it either improved precision (e.g. by adding a species name to a genus) or revealed false precision, for example where a determination to species level was not supported by the available evidence. We propose that the success of iSpot arises from the structure of its social network that efficiently connects beginners and experts, overcoming the social as well as geographic barriers that normally separate the two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Silvertown
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK ; Current address: Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, Scotland, UK
| | - Martin Harvey
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Richard Greenwood
- Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Mike Dodd
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Jon Rosewell
- Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Tony Rebelo
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Janice Ansine
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Kevin McConway
- Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
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Hill A, Guralnick R, Smith A, Sallans A, Rosemary Gillespie, Denslow M, Gross J, Murrell Z, Tim Conyers, Oboyski P, Ball J, Thomer A, Prys-Jones R, de Torre J, Kociolek P, Fortson L. The notes from nature tool for unlocking biodiversity records from museum records through citizen science. Zookeys 2012:219-33. [PMID: 22859890 PMCID: PMC3406478 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.209.3472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Legacy data from natural history collections contain invaluable and irreplaceable information about biodiversity in the recent past, providing a baseline for detecting change and forecasting the future of biodiversity on a human-dominated planet. However, these data are often not available in formats that facilitate use and synthesis. New approaches are needed to enhance the rates of digitization and data quality improvement. Notes from Nature provides one such novel approach by asking citizen scientists to help with transcription tasks. The initial web-based prototype of Notes from Nature is soon widely available and was developed collaboratively by biodiversity scientists, natural history collections staff, and experts in citizen science project development, programming and visualization. This project brings together digital images representing different types of biodiversity records including ledgers , herbarium sheets and pinned insects from multiple projects and natural history collections. Experts in developing web-based citizen science applications then designed and built a platform for transcribing textual data and metadata from these images. The end product is a fully open source web transcription tool built using the latest web technologies. The platform keeps volunteers engaged by initially explaining the scientific importance of the work via a short orientation, and then providing transcription “missions” of well defined scope, along with dynamic feedback, interactivity and rewards. Transcribed records, along with record-level and process metadata, are provided back to the institutions. While the tool is being developed with new users in mind, it can serve a broad range of needs from novice to trained museum specialist. Notes from Nature has the potential to speed the rate of biodiversity data being made available to a broad community of users.
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