Better together: Citizen science and digital tools to improve air quality policy. That's the title of the new online course that teaches A-Z of community-driven urban sensing in smart cities.
Have you been thinking about measuring air quality or traffic with local enthusiasts, but are not sure where to start? If so, look no further as COMPAIR has just launched an online course to help people like you run a successful citizen science project.
In 5 modules, you will learn how to use innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement, sensor deployment, data collection and analysis to drive policy and lifestyle changes needed for sustainable development.
“Citizen science is a well-researched topic, however there are hardly any MOOCs out there that teach you how to do citizen science in the context of air quality or traffic monitoring,” said COMPAIR’s coordinator Lieven Raes. “With our course, students get access to high-quality content created based on real-world experience of running these kinds of measurement campaigns in multiple cities across Europe.”
How long does it take?
The course takes about 5 hours to complete. Study at your own pace as there is no start/end dates, nor will there be any gradual releases over time. The course is published all-at-once.
What will you do?
Read and watch the learning materials. Participate in forum discussions. Use apps to complete training tasks. Answer quiz questions.
Will you get a certificate?
Yes. Once you reach 100% completion a certificate will be sent to your email.
What else will you get?
Good awareness of the principles of air quality monitoring, the harmful effect air pollution has on people and cities, and how the problem has been tackled on different levels and scales
Insights on how to establish a solid foundation for a citizen science project, focusing on three key pillars: co-creation, policy relevance, and the quality of experiment design
A well-rounded knowledge of stakeholder engagement techniques that help make citizen science more inclusive of different social groups
An understanding of how data calibration works and how to apply this method to improve trust in citizen science data
Practical skills rooted in hands-on experience of using digital tools to analyse and make sense of citizen science findings through advanced yet intuitive data analytics
Motivation to act on climate challenges by joining an existing or running your own citizen science initiative
COMPAIR’s online course is open for enrolment.
Become a certified expert.
Course structure and topics covered
Module 1: Citizen science against air pollution
The impact of air pollution on cities and citizens
How EU efforts to tackle air pollution evolved through time, including how the current policy landscape is changing
The main difference between official monitoring and citizen-led monitoring, their advantages and disadvantages
Key points to consider when organising a citizen science project on air quality
Module 2: Laying the groundwork for a citizen science project
The importance of co-creation in citizen science
Case studies where the ‘co-creative by design’ principle was used to set the project on a solid footing
Ways to enhance quality at the level of data and participation
Grassroot campaigns that used data calibration and ethical engagement to increase trust in their results
Benefits of making citizen science policy-relevant
Real-life examples of citizen science-policy interface in EU cities
Module 3: Stakeholder engagement
The benefits of using local champions in a citizen science project
How schools are using citizen science to instil active citizenship in children
The different ways in which hard-to-reach communities can be identified and engaged
How to get the most out of workshop interaction by following COMPAIR’s good-practice guide
Module 4: Data collection and analysis
A selection of low-cost IoT sensing devices for measuring air quality and traffic
The distant cloud calibration framework, its benefits, workflow and real-life application
A web-based dashboard for analysing policy-induced changes in traffic and air quality (PMD)
A set of tools for measuring individual carbon footprint and simulating actions necessary to reach EU Green Deal targets (CO2 Calculator)
A mobile app that visualises air pollution in Augmented Reality (DEVA)
An analytics tool for measuring exposure to air pollution while a person is on the move (DEV-D)
A communal method for interpreting findings known as a data cafe
Module 5: Impact and sustainability
The use of a counterfactual analysis, involving a comparison of target and control areas, in the assessment of a policy intervention in Berlin
The contribution citizen science can make to classroom and extracurricular activities
Creative engagement techniques used in Plovdiv to improve environmental awareness in school children
Different pathways through which change in attitudes and behaviour can be stimulated
How parents in Sofia changed their travel habits as a result of a policy measure, citizen science, and group dynamics