The team from NESTA’s Centre for Collective Intelligence Design, our IMPETUS partner focused on policy with and for citizen science, is hosting a series of events to connect decision-makers with the citizen science community and raise awareness about the benefits of participatory practices in research and innovation that align with society’s needs.
The series premiered at this year’s London Data Week—a brilliant initiative designed to bring together individuals interested in data for a collaborative, open, and inclusive conversation during the first week of July. The NESTA team ran an interactive workshop on citizen science data, focusing on the practicalities and feasibility of using citizen science data in local contexts. Taking the pragmatic guidelines they’ve developed on using citizen science in local decision-making as a basis for discussion, participants reviewed these and provided invaluable feedback on how to apply these in their work. The team will then update the guidelines as a helpful resource on our IMPETUS website in the coming months.
After the workshop, the team ventured out on a “walkshop”—a walking workshop—to bring producers of citizen science data together with those who might use it. This event, organised in collaboration with the UCL Citizen Science Academy and Camden Council, explored a specific area of the London Borough of Camden to showcase how citizen science drives practical changes in the city. This included hearing from pioneering projects such as the Good Life Euston, the Euston Young Voices, and the Community Champions Programme.
“It was great to see a range of local authorities and others at our workshop discussing the practicalities and feasibility of using citizen science data in their local contexts. It was also inspirational to hear from so many pioneering projects in the Somerstown area of Camden, where there is much to be learnt about how citizen science can be used in local decision-making. ”
said Alexandra Albert, IMPETUS Policy Engagement Coordinator, NESTA UK.
This events series will continue over the next year and a half.
Contact the team for updates about them
Photos: Produced for London Data Week by the London Office of Technology & Innovation and ODL Agency.
