How Networks of Citizen Observatories Can Increase the Quality and Quantity of Citizen-Science-Generated Data Used to Monitor SDG Indicators

Sasha Marie Woods, Maria Daskolia, Alexis Joly, Pierre Bonnet, Karen Soacha, Sonia Liñan, Tim Woods, Jaume Piera and Luigi Ceccaroni
Additional contact information
Sasha Marie Woods: Earthwatch Europe, Oxford OX2 7DE, UK
Maria Daskolia: Environmental Education Lab, Department of Educational Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, 15784 Athens, Greece
Alexis Joly: INRIA, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
Pierre Bonnet: Botany and Modeling of Plant Architecture and Vegetation (AMAP), French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Research Institute for Development (IRD), University of Montpellier, 34398 Montpellier, France
Karen Soacha: EMBIMOS Group, Institute of Marine Sciences-Spanish Research Council (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Sonia Liñan: EMBIMOS Group, Institute of Marine Sciences-Spanish Research Council (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Tim Woods: European Citizen Science Association (ECSA), Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Jaume Piera: EMBIMOS Group, Institute of Marine Sciences-Spanish Research Council (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Luigi Ceccaroni: Earthwatch Europe, Oxford OX2 7DE, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: There is a growing acknowledgement that citizen observatories, and other forms of citizen-generated data, have a significant role in tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This is evident in the increasing number of Sustainable Development Goals’ indicators for which such data are already being used and in the high-level recognition of the potential role that citizen science can play. In this article, we argue that networks of citizen observatories will help realise this potential. Drawing on the Cos4Cloud project as an example, we highlight how such networks can make citizen-generated data more interoperable and accessible (among other qualities), increasing their impact and usefulness. Furthermore, we highlight other, perhaps overlooked, advantages of citizen observatories and citizen-generated data: educating and informing citizen scientists about the Sustainable Development Goals and co-creating solutions to the global challenges they address.

Keywords: citizen science; citizen observatory; Sustainable Development Goals; interoperability; co-design; education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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