With funding from NWO Open Science NL, the Citizen Science Hub Twente has grown into a regional hub of Universiteit Twente and Saxion, together with regional partners. Under the name Oost Ontdekt (“East Explores”), we organize public engagement activities for residents of the eastern Netherlands around citizen science and research on the living environment.
One of these initiatives is the development of measurement libraries in the 14 Twente libraries together with Tetem, that created maker spaces in all these libraries. Measuring libraries are places where residents can borrow measuring equipment and jointly learn, research and experiment. Examples include sensors for air quality, sound, temperature, biodiversity or water quality. In this way, technology and data collection become accessible not only to researchers and experts, but also to residents who want to actively contribute to research and societal challenges.
Why a measurement library?
A measurement library can have significant value for the region as well as for research and education. By enabling residents to carry out measurements themselves, it increases engagement with themes such as health, sustainability and quality of life. At the same time, it offers researchers new opportunities for data collection, participatory research and long-term environmental monitoring.
In addition, a measurement library lowers the threshold for participating in citizen science. Residents do not need to own expensive equipment or have specialist technical knowledge in order to contribute.
In Groningen, four measurement libraries have already been established through the CurioUs project. Experiences there show that residents actively borrow equipment to investigate their own living environment. Collaborative measurement campaigns are also organized together with researchers, allowing collected data to directly contribute to scientific research. The measurement library therefore creates opportunities for collaboration between education, government, libraries, societal organizations and residents. It becomes a place where knowledge sharing, societal engagement and research come together.
Call for researchers and staff
To further develop the measurement libraries, we are looking for measuring instruments that may be suitable for use within the initiative.
Examples include:
- Sensors
- Data loggers
- Air quality meters
- Sound level meters
- Temperature or humidity meters
- Wildlife cameras
- Etc.
In addition, we are looking for funding opportunities to sustainably further develop the measurement libraries within the region. We would therefore like to connect with researchers, projects and partners who see opportunities for collaboration, joint funding applications or integration within education and research.
We are also looking for researchers and staff members who:
- Would like to think along about possible applications
- Have ideas for measurement campaigns or research projects
- Are interested in collaboration with residents or societal partners
- Would like to share expertise on citizen science and participatory research
Do you have ideas, available equipment or would you like to know more? Please get in touch via citizen-science@utwente.nl or contact:
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