Relevant topics covered for citizen science projects

1. Climate monitoring 

Citizen science contributes to climate monitoring in various ways, in both urban and rural contexts. It can track temperature, soil dryness, and other climate-related variables that help measure heatwaves, urban heat islands, and droughts. Additionally, it enables data collection to anticipate and generate early-warning signals for extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods (see 11). Climate monitoring can range from low-level participation, such as collecting data to detect temperature hotspots, to collaborating with specialists to develop local solutions for specific contexts. 

Projects

• iChange 

• Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring (NIHHIS) [previously NOAA Urban Heat Mapping Campaigns] 

• CALOR (aquí) 

• Observatorio Ciudadano de la Sequia 

2. Biodiversity Conservation 

Citizen science projects are relevant in tracking biodiversity changes driven by climate change (Chandler et al., 2017; Voigt-Heucke et al., 2023). Participants help monitor species distributions and migrations, providing insights into how wildlife adapts to shifting temperatures. Additionally, volunteers document the spread of climate-sensitive invasive species, helping to assess their impact on native ecosystems. By combining widespread public participation with scientific research, citizen science enhances our understanding of ecological shifts and supports more effective conservation strategies.

Projects

• eBird: Bird migration monitoring. 

• Natusfera 

• Mosquito Alert  

• Observatorio ciudadano de mariposas urbanas uBMS 

3. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems 

Citizen science actively supports monitoring the health of marine and coastal ecosystems, providing essential data for conservation efforts. Divers, boaters, and coastal residents track ocean temperature and pH levels, offering critical insights into ocean acidification and climate change impacts. Local communities also document coastal erosion and the loss of habitats, helping to assess and manage the effects of sea-level rise, contributing to adaptation strategies for vulnerable areas. Additionally, fishermen contribute data on changing fish populations and shifts in breeding seasons, supporting sustainable fisheries management. By integrating local observations with scientific research, citizen science strengthens efforts to protect fragile marine and coastal environments. 

Projects 

• Marine Debris Tracker: Monitoring of coastal pollution. 

• CoastSnap: Smartphone-based coastal erosion tracking. 

• SeaKeepers Ocean Alliance: Citizen marine data collection. 

• Reef Check: Coral reef citizen science. 

• SeaPaCS 

4. Air Quality 

Citizen science serves as a key tool for air quality monitoring by enabling widespread data collection through low-cost sensors (see EEA post on Air Quality). Citizens can install sensors at home to measure pollutants such as PM2.5, NO2, and CO2, providing valuable insights into local air quality. Crowdsourced data also helps track wildfire smoke and urban pollution in real time, improving health advisories and informing urban planning. Additionally, citizen-led initiatives assess indoor air quality in homes and schools, identifying ventilation issues and mitigating heat-related impacts. This collaborative approach, jointly with grassroots campaigns, enhances environmental awareness and supports data-driven policy decisions (Mahajan et al., 2022). 

Projects

• weADAPT 

• xAire 

 5. Water Management 

Citizen science applications in water management focus on improving the understanding and management of freshwater resources and flood risks. Citizens contribute by providing real-time flood reports and measuring water levels in rivers, streams, and streets, which aids in refining flood models and improving preparedness. Additionally, volunteers collect water samples from rivers, lakes, and oceans to monitor water quality, testing for pollutants, turbidity, and oxygen levels (Peplow, 2018). These efforts help to inform effective water management strategies and ensure healthier water systems. 

Projects 

• Floodup. The project aims to improve awareness regarding floods and intense rainfall and their impacts, as well as to increase the information available to the scientific community. The project is coordinated by Grupo de Análisis de Situaciones Meteorológicas Adversas (GAMA-UB)

• FreshWaterWatch: This project is focused on protecting freshwater environments. It is quite focused on the UK, but it is open to collecting data from all over the world. The project is developed by Earthwatch Institute.

• CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network): Public rainfall data collection centred in the USA.

6. Sustainable Energy 

Citizen science contributes to the transition towards sustainable energy by engaging communities in data collection and monitoring. Households participating in solar and wind projects track their energy production, providing valuable insights into local renewable energy potential. Citizens also monitor their energy consumption, generating crowdsourced data that helps identify usage patterns and improve efficiency. Additionally, reports on blackouts and grid failures during extreme heat events offer critical information for strengthening energy infrastructure resilience.  

Projects 

• Sunroof by Google: Community-driven solar potential assessment. 

7. Agriculture and Food Systems 

Citizen science supports sustainable agriculture and food security by enabling communities to monitor and adapt to changing climate conditions. Farmers contribute by sharing crop growth data under varying environmental conditions, helping to improve resilience and optimise yields. Citizens also track soil moisture levels and drought impacts, providing valuable insights for better water management strategies (see point 5). In urban areas, community-led monitoring of food production in gardens and urban farms helps assess sustainability and enhance local food resilience (Campbell et al., 2024; Ribeiro et al., 2024). By integrating grassroots knowledge with scientific research, citizen science strengthens climate adaptation efforts in both rural and urban food systems. 

Projects 

• Grow Observatory: Soil monitoring by farmers and gardeners. 

• Phenology Network: Tracking seasonal shifts in crops and plants. 

• INCREASE: Intelligent Collections of Food-Legume Genetic Resources for European Agrofood Systems

8. Green Infrastructure 

Citizen science has great potential for enhancing urban greenery. Many citizen science projects focus on helping cities plan better green infrastructure (Pudifoot et al., 2021). Examples include projects on land use, tree cover, green roofs, and sustainable drainage, as well as monitoring interventions like green roofs or rain gardens to reduce urban flooding (see CREAF post on rain gardens). Co-created initiatives can also improve understanding of public perceptions of green spaces and generate ideas for new interventions. 

Projects 

• LandSense 

• iNaturalist: Identifies urban biodiversity trends. 

• Mapping for Change 

• Urban Releaf (https://urbanreleaf.eu/) 

• TreeTrackers: Volunteers map trees and collect data on canopy cover. 

9. Sustainable Mobility 

Citizen science is instrumental in sustainable mobility. One of its most evident contributions is gathering data on mobility habits and environmental impacts. Citizens can track their use of walking, cycling, and public transport, supporting more sustainable mobility planning. Participants can also monitor traffic-related air pollution with mobile sensors, providing insights into vehicle emissions. Additionally, citizen reports on overheating in metro stations and road networks help identify problem areas and inform infrastructure improvements. By combining collaborative data collection with grassroots civil society initiatives, citizen science not only enhances urban planning but also fosters healthier environments through a more inclusive and participatory approach. 

Projects 

• CycleAI: Crowdsourced data for cycling infrastructure improvements. 

• OpenStreetMap’s Mobility Projects: Volunteer-driven mapping of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. 

• BiciZen 

10. Public Health 

Citizen science empowers communities to actively contribute to understanding and addressing the health impacts of climate change. Through initiatives such as climate monitoring, air quality tracking, and biodiversity observations, citizens help generate valuable data on environmental factors that influence public health. For instance, air pollution monitoring provides insights into respiratory risks, while climate data supports the identification of conditions linked to disease outbreaks.  

Projects

• Mosquito Alert: Citizen monitoring of mosquito populations. 

• Heat Watch: Community heat impact mapping.

11. Disaster Preparedness and Response 

Citizen science plays a vital role in disaster response and recovery, empowering communities to contribute to real-time monitoring and preparedness (Kenens et al, 2020). Through crowdsourced flood and disaster mapping, local residents report the immediate impacts of hurricanes, storms, and wildfires, helping to improve disaster response and planning. Volunteers also document post-disaster damage and reconstruction efforts, providing valuable data for recovery strategies. Additionally, citizen-led early warning systems allow communities to develop local networks for alerting others to impending floods, storms, or heatwaves, enhancing resilience and preparedness. By harnessing local knowledge and engagement, citizen science strengthens disaster management and supports more effective community responses to extreme events. 

Projects

• Ushahidi: Crowdsourced disaster mapping. 

• GloFAS: Community flood forecasting contributions. 

12. Social Science 

Citizen science contributes to social research on climate adaptation by mapping at-risk populations, helping to shape targeted resilience strategies (Oliver et al, 2023). Public perception studies, using surveys and social media data, assess climate awareness and engagement. Community-collected data also informs urban and national climate policies, ensuring they reflect local needs. Additionally, behavioural experiments explore ways to encourage sustainable actions, such as reducing energy use or improving air quality. By integrating social insights with scientific research, citizen science strengthens climate action and policy development. 

Projects

• MySociety’s Climate Assemblies: Public engagement in climate policy. 

References

• Campbell, C. G., Lugones, D. P., & Gomez, C. (2024). Citizen Science and Urban Home Gardeners’ Attitudes Toward Gardening. HortTechnology, 34(2), 127-136. 

• Chandler, M., et al. (2017). Contribution of citizen science towards international biodiversity monitoring. Biological conservation, 213, 280-294. 

• Kenens, J., Van Oudheusden, M., Yoshizawa, G., & Van Hoyweghen, I. (2020). Science by, with and for citizens: rethinking ‘citizen science’ after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Palgrave communications, 6(1), 1-8. 

• Mahajan, S., Chung, M. K., Martinez, J., Olaya, Y., Helbing, D., & Chen, L. J. (2022). Translating citizen-generated air quality data into evidence for shaping policy. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1-18. 

• Oliver, T. H., Bazaanah, P., Da Costa, J., Deka, N., Dornelles, A. Z., Greenwell, M. P., ... & Gilbert, N. (2023). Empowering citizen-led adaptation to systemic climate change risks. Nature Climate Change, 13(7), 671-678. 

• Peplow, M. (2018). The Flint water crisis: how citizen scientists exposed poisonous politics. Nature, 559(7713), 180-181. 

• Pudifoot, B., Cárdenas, M. L., Buytaert, W., Paul, J. D., Narraway, C. L., & Loiselle, S. (2021). When it rains, it pours: Integrating citizen science methods to understand resilience of urban green spaces. Frontiers in Water, 3, 654493.

• Ribeiro, A., Madureira, L., & Carvalho, R. (2024). Citizens’ deliberation on solutions to fight urban household food waste and nexus with growing urban gardens: The case of porto metropolitan area in Portugal. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 13, 100188. 

• Voigt-Heucke, S. L., et al. (2023). How Citizen Science Projects Contribute to Urban Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Frameworks—A German Case Study. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 8(1).