The Blue DOT - 12: Reimagining Learning Spaces for Uncertain Times

This app (GLOBE Observer)
allows data for specific
protocols to be submitted
and is being expanded
to allow data entry for all
science protocols in the
program. The program
collaborates with NASA and
other space agencies to run
student campaigns that
focus on data collections
and analysis.
importance of data analysis as well as how
to conduct these analyses. The webinars,
many for student citizen scientists, have
even focused on developing research
questions so that while students are at
home, they can develop such questions
and using existing citizen science data, do
original research.
An example here is the GLOBE (Global
the Environment; www.globe.gov)
program, a 25-year-old worldwide citizen
science and education program, which
encourages students and now citizens to
collect earth science data and partner
with scientists to work together to better
understand, sustain, and improve Earth's
environment at local, regional, and global
scales. GLOBE has a strong community
that actively interact through meetings,
events as well as online communications.
While traditionally aimed at schools, the
program has expanded to citizen scientists
through the release of an app, GLOBE
Observer. This app allows data for
and is being expanded to allow data
entry for all science protocols in the
program. The program collaborates
with NASA and other space agencies
to organize student campaigns
that focus on data collection and
analysis.
However, once COVID-19 became a pandemic the focus of the
program shifted from data collection (because many of the 123
countries involved in the program had imposed local movement
restrictions) to data analysis. This pivot was supported with
webinars about retrieving and analyzing data from the GLOBE
database and other databases. In addition, over the last number
of years, schools have begun to increase their instrumentation
infrastructure so that data can be recorded automatically, which in
this type of situation is a wonderful back-up for student collected
data.
One of the other challenges in this situation is ensuring
that every student and citizen scientist has equal access to
submitting and retrieving the data within a system. Given
that most citizen science projects have apps and technology of some
form as part of their infrastructure, it is very important that project
planners are mindful of the digital divide, which is still present in
many areas around the world. Keeping this balance of upgrading
and advancing technology for science citizens who may still be
battling connectivity and technology updates is very important
to the success of a project. Frustrations can often run high with
technology; it should really enable engagement and involvement,
between and even within countries.
With an active community, such as GLOBE’s, it is important
to keep it engaged, no matter the circumstances. As COVID
maintain this engagement through its online infrastructure. It
Caribbean, Near East and North Africa) with a web-conferencing
tool. The RCOs has since held monthly calls with the GLOBE
Country Coordinators (CC) in their regions; these have proved
incredibly successful and have been highly subscribed to by the
CCs. As all in person meetings has been cancelled, these calls help
keep the community informed and engaged; the high participation
levels clearly show that it wants this type of contact. As for students
and teachers, analysis of GLOBE data has shown that there is little
change in data entry for student collected data, pre-COVID and
while the pandemic continues. This again shows how engaged the
community is and wants to be. Finally, as part of the program’s
asked students to submit videos where they answered the question:
What changes are you seeing in nature during the COVID-19
pandemic? Their observations are shown here: https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=kCMyb5Koq7E&list=PLfpnkASII_NahmvmqCcjaKSTZqdQ6tym&index=5
In summary, overcoming uncertainty in a citizen science
community in a situation such as this is based on
• reaching out constantly to your members by whatever
communication strategy works best for your project and community
to reassure them that the project is still present and operating as
normal as possible;
• being honest with the community about the impact of the
situation on the project;
• encouraging engagement through data analysis, and data
collection, only if safe and not contravening local movement
restrictions;
• creating or gathering additional resources for your community
and sharing them;
• trying to decrease the digital divide, if possible; and
• assisting your community to raise funds to build the project’s
in times like this.
(The last two points are areas that should be worked on continually
and especially in ‘normal’ times. However, many foundations are
stepping up realizing the impact the pandemic is having on many
so that communities and projects can respond to issues like the
digital divide.)
The important point to remember here, is that this pandemic
will pass at some point, and we will all get back to some form of
normality. For now, many citizen science projects have altered a
number of practices to keep citizens safe, yet engaged in various
ways. They will continue to work, as they are, with communities
and scientists in the collection and analysis of data to help us all
universe) better.
OPINION
ISSUE • 12
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