In citizen science, citizens and researchers join forces to make a societal positive impact. Part of the University of Twente’s mission is to strengthen society by providing sustainable solutions to current problems. Last year, the Citizen Science Hub Twente made a call for citizens and researchers to submit their research ideas for the start of a new programme “Civic and Citizen Science”. This programme aims to strengthen citizen participation in scientific research. Five projects were selected and received a grant to work on the project for two years. Citizen Science Hub Twente sat down with the researchers and citizens of each project to give an update on how it is proceeding.
Children Citizen geo-Science
This Children Citizen Geo-science project is a collaborative project between the University of Twente and the International School of Twente. Representing the UT are Funda Atun and Javier Martinez from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. Funda is an associate professor in Strategic Spatial Planning with a focus on nature based solutions, climate change adaptation, societal resilience and disaster risk assessment and management. Javier is an associate professor in Urban Quality of Life and Inequalities with a special research focus on community well-being, intra-urban inequalities and mixed methods.
International School Twente
Representing International School Twente is Martin van Hooijdonk. He is the proud teacher of the 19 kids aged 10 to 11 involved in this project. We sat down with him to hear about his side of the project. “These children love to have their voices heard by adults.” He shared his experience with the previous and current projects that he has been working on with Funda and Javier. He explained how after the first project, he found it important to give more kids the opportunity to make a difference and have their voices heard.
Often, society assumes that children will only make a difference in the future. This project challenges that mindset. Funda and Javier shared their research questions with us: “How can geo-citizen science address urban challenges related to the impacts of climate change? What constitutes children’s capacities?” They believe that children possess unique capacities to respond to climate change-related disasters.“What are these capacities, and how can we harness them?” Funda explains. “Children are often labelled as vulnerable, but our experience shows that they are knowledgeable agents who can understand complex phenomena like climate change. By sharing knowledge with them in ways they can engage with, we empower them to communicate their ideas and develop innovative solutions.”
Active agents of change
The main goal of this project is to recognise children as active agents that can contribute to society’s climate change issues, as opposed to being vulnerable victims. Society is always waiting for a child to become older, more educated to be able to make a change. But that shouldn’t be the case. Children can act on climate change now. Children are often more creative and empathetic than adults, so they should be given the chance to actively contribute to their society and environment.
The project started by developing a map-based survey and learning about specific issues related to climate adaptation and well-being. The children were guided by Funda, Javier and Martin to see which are the tools they could use to do research on the positive and negative aspects of climate adaptation and well-being. After that, data collection was done. The children, or in this case, co-researchers have been equipped with knowledge of various research methodologies and tools. They conducted a map-based questionnaire in a neighbourhood close to the International School Twente in Enschede to collect data on issues related to climate adaptation and well-being. The teacher decided not to simplify the research terminology, so that children would get familiar with it and learn it the right way. “We didn’t ‘dumb it down at all, because we treat the children as co-researchers. Using the right terminology makes them feel special as well.” Martin explained. Teacher Martin even noticed something: Some kids were so shy in class, but they were very active during the research. This really pleased him. Isn’t that amazing, that it meant something to these kids? “You know that they have it in them, but to see them out there trying to speak Dutch or English to complete strangers (and adults) was just so cool.”
To showcase their findings, artist Vivien Reichel, along with International School Twente children, Martin, Javier and Funda, will host an art exhibition with the results – translated into digital art. The exhibition will communicate the scientific outcomes of the children’s research in a creative and interactive way.
Stop waiting
The most important takeaway from this project would be: Stop waiting. People often think that we are educating ‘the next generation’. But why? They can already be a part of the community and propose changes so they can engage in the community despite the knowledge that still persists and that adults are educated. Society is often waiting for ‘the next generation’, but they are a part of life right now.
This project required a lot of flexibility. You never know what the children will come up with. Before their last project, Funda and Javier had no idea they would end up with a board game. Just as this time around, they didn’t expect to end up with an entire exhibition. The most important step is to listen to the children and facilitate them. They just might come up with a better idea than you.
More information
Funda and Javier established the Kidwise Research after collaborating with children in various projects. For more information about their projects in Kidwise Research please visit Kidwise: Children's citizen science projects | Global Impact | ITC.nl