Citizen science: more than just a data-collection tool (a case study from Cyprus) ORAL PRESENTATION

Data is vital to identifying the cause and potential solution to problems. Unfortunately, often a large amount of data is needed to draw these conclusions, an amount that is often impossible for researchers to collect alone. A viable solution to this problem is a tool known as citizen science. Citizen science involves the mobilisation of the public to assist in data collection. The data gathered from citizen science efforts have helped draw conclusions and present solutions to known problems. One of the vastest environmental problems currently plaguing the earth is that of marine litter. Marine litter is having documented detrimental effects on both wildlife and humans. The public is often unaware of the true destruction caused by marine litter and do not understand that it affects everyone regardless of nationality or social standing.

This is the concept that led to the implementation of the MarLitCy project, to introduce the issue of marine litter to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, collect much-needed data on the distribution of litter on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus and bring together two communities in conflict over a common goal. This vital data will be used to supplement the marine litter database of the project which is subsequently used to inform on decisions that affect the wellbeing of the island.
Through the implementation of joint, bi-communal activities involving beach and seabed cleanups with volunteers and divers, MarLitCy brings an unconventional twist on the idea of citizen science not just for the collection of large amounts of data but also as a tool to spark conversation and understanding between two divided communities and to increase the awareness of a country on the issues that affect them. This paper will present the outcomes and lessons-learned from these citizen-science actions and how this can be replicated to facilitate extensive data collection alongside cooperation.

Abstract in englishThe MarLitCy Project is funded by the European Union under the Cypriot Civil Society in Action VI grant scheme and implemented by Famagusta Walled City Association (MASDER), AKTI Project and Research Centre, North Cyprus Diving Centres Association, and Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre.

Mrs Christina BALDWIN and Xenia LOIZIDOU and ATAI Serdar, Famagusta Walled City Association MASDER, MarLitCy: Marine Litter for Synergies, and Capacity-building, Cyprus, http://www.marlitcy.eu/

On Nature Peaks ORAL PRESENTATION

In July, I went to Chandolin, one of the highest villages of Europe to participate, with other uninitiated, to the program of On Nature Peaks.

This program is a mix of botanic and alpinism, where participants, from 13 to 45 years old, collect botanic data, supervised by a professional botanist. It is included in the BIODIVERSITA project, which is composed of a lot of other programs, and which objective is the etude and conservation of the biodiversity, via citizen research.

Mr Luc IMBERT, ONG Objectif Sciences International - OSI BIODIVERSITA, France, https://www.osi-biodiversita.org/

Botan’Isle : Mobile gardens for plant education and ethnobotany research. ORAL PRESENTATION

Creating and impulsing meaningful changes in our societies will involve several layers of innovation, from education and research to industry. Can we, as companies, reimagine our way of innovating, taking into account the real needs of citizens, the ecological balance of the world, and maintaining a virtuous work cycle ? Benephyt, created in 2013 as an independent research company, aims at tackling the matter of chronic pain, a disease that touches more than 30% of citizens worldwide, and currently lacks efficient long term treatments. In addition, Benephyt now has several new missions like encouraging biodiversity, protecting and translating ethnobotanical knowledge to a large and diverse public.

Our objective is to rediscover, assess and explore the relevance of traditional knowledge for the treatment of chronic pain and other relevant uses of plants , through ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological approaches.

For this purpose, knowledge collection and crowd-sourcing of information is required. In an attempt to make this exchange of knowledge virtuous and ethical, we imagined the prototype of a modular and mobile educational garden that will allow us to both communicate and gather information about the local use of plants in the East of France. This polyvalent tool could allow education and research opportunities in all kinds of locations and in the most unexpected places, from cities to remote villages and from libraries to supermarkets.

Overall, we hope that this prototype will become a valuable tool of research in the field of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology as well as for raising environmental awareness among citizens and therefore adding to the global effort for the sensibilization to biodiversity protection and conservation.

Mrs Eléa HEBERLE, Ph.D ; Ethnopharmacology researcher - Benephyt, France, www.benephyt.fr

Along the tree - springtails ORAL PRESENTATION

Presentation of two research projects about soils. Evaluation of the efficiency of various protocols on soils’ observation. Participation to an experiment aiming to alter the relations of individuals to the soils.

Mr Pierre DEBELLEMANIERE, ONG Objectif SCiences International - OSI PERCEPTIONN, France, https://www.osi-perception.org/

When the biodiversity of ecosystems meets the citizen science ORAL PRESENTATION

How have a better understanding of the interactions, within an ecosystem, of the various life forms in order to offer innovative ecological solutions ?

The solution could be to raise awareness on integrated management systems through project educqtion to increase familiarity with ones’ environment.

Mrs Solène TOUZEAU, ONG Objectif Sciences International - OSI PERCEPTION, France, https://www.osi-perception.org

Moth and Comllembola ORAL PRESENTATION

The trip in the course of the trees Pyralidae and Springtails created by OSI present :
The pyralidae, an invasive species that destroys every bush in its path ! However, we don’t know everything about them .... The number of times they moult is still unknown and predators hapve been discovered by OSI !
The springtails are super heroes invisible to the naked eye ! Yet without them we cannot live ! They provide nutrients and aerate the soil better than anyone else !

Mr Paule-Elie RABIER and Mr Amaury BARRET, ONG Objectif Sciences International OSI PERCEPTION, France, https://www.osi-perception.org/

OSI PANTHERA CITIZEN SCIENCE EXPEDITIONS TO PROTECT THE SNOW LEOPARD AND ITS ECOSYSTEM ORAL PRESENTATION

Since 2007, the Panthera program has been working to protect the snow leopard and its ecosystem in Kyrgyzstan and Nepal through the organization of citizen science expeditions.

Camera trapping, genetic analysis and wildlife monitoring are part of the program in partnership with local nature reserves and associations.

Mr Bastien CHAIX, OSI PANTHERA, France, www.osi-panthera.org

Water Watch ORAL PRESENTATION

The Water Watch trip goal is about solving problems we can find in aquatic ecosystems in France and all around the world.

During this stay we could notice that the electro-conductivity was higher for the rivers Fontaine des Allemands and Miére than for the Pré Janneton and Petit Vair, which allows us to know the rate of nutritive salt in the water.

But we could also notice that there was no nitrite, dangerous for the living beings.

Mrs Maïra AGUILAR-BRE, ONG Objectif Sciences International, France, https://www.osi-water-watch.org/

Clean Games REMOTE ORAL PRESENTATION

Clean Games are team competitions in cleaning up local territories. The participants compete in waste collecting and sorting, and the winners are awarded. The players use the mobile app — it is like Pokemon Go but with garbage.

An event gathers from 30 to 1500 people. They collect from 0.5 to 20 tons of waste for an hour. In general, the Clean Games participant can collect 10 times more waste than during a traditional clean-up. Games are held as city festivals with a host, music and a picnic.

The project started in 2014 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Since then more than 1250 games have been held in 436 Russian cities, the USA, China, Japan, and 23 more countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The games have united more than 87 000 players, who have collected more than 3200 tons of waste. The Clean Games methodology is spread free of charge.

Mr Anton ZAITSEV, Russian Federation, Russian Federation, https://cleangames.org

Exploring perspectives of more resilient Cities in Africa REMOTE ORAL PRESENTATION

In the context of land use planning or town planning, we talk about resilient cities. The resilient city seems to be the solution to many of the urban challenges of African hamlets, especially with the advent of the pandemic. Africa has launched a few years ago towards a policy of smart cities and sustainable cities. So what are the criteria for a model of a resilient African city if we look at certain countries that already stand out ? What aspects must now be taken into account in this context of health crisis while ensuring the sustainability of these sustainable city projects ?
We will give a general definition of the different terms for cities, take examples of African cities and explore important aspects to define the basis of a resilient city model. We will then highlight the importance of educating the population and the youth so that they can participate in this action while giving one or two examples.

Ms. Essi Farida GERALDO ; Youth Architect Community, Togo, https://www.facebook.com/youtharchidar/

Lidar in everyday life ORAL PRESENTATION

During these summer holidays in Crupies, a small town next to Valence in the mountains, I and young people interested in computer science worked on sensors, more precisely on the lidar which makes it possible to scan a space in 3D to be able to scan a caves in Mexico difficult to access by humans with other common stays.

Mr Gabriel CHAUVELIER, ONG Objectif Sciences International - OSI CHIP HACKADEMY, France, https://www.osi-chip-hackademy.org/

Centering Participatory Action Research in Racial Equity and Global Justice REMOTE ORAL PRESENTATION

Across the globe, more and more organizations are making commitments to achieve racial equity and global justice, but the complexities surrounding achieving such goals are not always clear. To effectively address racial equity at RAND, it’s important to upskill ourselves in these intersectional research spaces in order to better understand the implications they have on our daily work and research.

At the same time, we must acknowledge that personal beliefs/perceptions, and not always data, are what determine how people respond to efforts taken to increase equity. Balancing racial equity studies, policy analysis, and cross-functional awareness, are key to making the work at the RAND Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy meaningful and action-oriented.

Mrs Rhianna ROGERS, RAND Corporation, United States

Science with and for society: moving forward to a better future ORAL PRESENTATION - ABSENT

Citizenship science is a branch of science that is implemented in a participatory and interactive way at the community level. In this way, science and society are influenced by new approaches and ideas. In addition, the meaning of research and its results, often known as a closed environment, involve more people. Citizenship science has the potential to bring a wide range of benefits to researchers, citizens, policymakers, society, and the research and innovation cycle. This can bring science closer and more relevant to society, accelerate and enable the production of new scientific knowledge, and help policymakers monitor the implementation of regulations and their compliance.

In addition to all these benefits, increasing public awareness of science and flexibility in policy-making and increasing evidence-based policy-making are other benefits of citizenship science. The purpose of this study is to present the objectives of the science program with and for document-based communities.

Mrs Maryam MOGHADAMI, Tehran university, Iran, Islamic Republic of, https://ut.ac.ir/en

CITIZEN PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH PROJECT FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING IN KINSHASA IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ORAL PRESENTATION - ABSENT

Our primary desire is to create Eco neighborhoods or sustainable neighborhoods in Kinshasa. These sustainable neighborhoods will therefore promote :

To reduce the human ecological footprint

• by maximizing efficiency in terms of energy consumption
• and maximizing efficiency in the use of natural and renewable resources.
  The objectives of the project are as follows :
• Make a precise inventory of the current urban situation in the form of maps and surveys as exhaustive as possible of the population
• Raise awareness among the local population of the neighborhoods most affected by this phenomenon of the problems related to town planning, the environment and the advantages of developing more sustainable town planning
• Sizing, simulating, and finally proposing concrete and realistic urban improvements in order to make urbanism healthier and sustainable and therefore living conditions in Kinshasa.

We will develop town planning tools (development plans, town planning plans and regulations, dynamic maps) in order to :

Take stock of the urban situation in Kinshasa through field surveys, and the creation of dynamic maps over time.

Raise the awareness of the local population in terms of sustainable development and sustainable urban planning.

Contribute to the sustainable development of Kinshasa by collaborating with the competent authorities in terms of urban development in Kinshasa
The activities will be structured around 3 main axes :

• An analysis of the natural site of the city of Kinshasa : Collection of climatic, environmental and geographic data (temperature, rainfall, pedology, geology, geotechnics, site profile, vegetation, planimetry and leveling-slope and relief)
• An urban analysis and living conditions in the city of Kinshasa : Collection of data on the urban or fictional structure : Type of habitat (buildings and monuments), Social-community facilities, green space, roads and various networks or infrastructures basic techniques, level of servicing, industrial zone
• Population analysis - What is the state of affairs & what are the current needs in the urban environment ? : Collection of demographic and sociological data (workforce structure, activity, employment, density, plot occupancy rate and urbanization rate) mainly through surveys of the population.

Mr Jeancy MULE BOMA, PRIMATURE Gouvernement, République Démocratique du Congo, www.primature.cd

the preservation of medicinal plants by indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa ORAL PRESENTATION - ABSENT

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is a challenge that first and foremost challenges the United Nations and the countries of the Congo Basin, which abound most of the natural resources capable of playing a major role in sustainable development. .

The current observation is by no means shining, anthropogenic actions resulting in recklessness, incivism, ignorance, waste of resources, selfishness, lifestyle, industrialization, excessive deforestation, mercantilism, the loss of values are naturally at the origin of global plagues such as pollution, famine, drought, the destruction of the ozone layer, the appearance of new and rebellious pathologies, the disappearance of species. It is because of man that we have come to this and it is also through man that the solution will come. But to arrive at a world where there is more peace, justice, equity and happiness, we must remove the barriers, recognize its limits and its inadequacies and include everyone in this process of construction and research. of a better world by taking into account all the existential peculiarities of mankind.

Each people with a sociological organization qualified as primary or evolved has intrinsic values and know-how that can be used to achieve these SDGs. It is therefore necessary to avoid value judgments, stigmatization and exclusion which are non-objective factors and underperformance. We must necessarily integrate all the sociological components in the search for effective solutions and carry out resilient actions by adopting innovative strategies commensurate with the challenge.
The Baka peoples being custodians of certain originalities, authenticity, skills, know-how and specific knowledge conferred on them by their identity as indigenous peoples and therefore first inhabitants : we must recognize in them the holders of a certain science, of a technology that they possess, the mastery of the forest and of all the natural environment so they have been originating for a long time.

Cameroon, not being a wizard of this reality, must embrace this evidence and take into account the potential of its forest peoples (pygmies), and their significant and even essential contribution to the conservation of biodiversity. In Cameroon, these peoples living in the forest do not unfortunately fully enjoy all their rights because of their minority, yet they hold ancestral knowledge and know-how that are very useful in the field of nature protection, the development of ecotourism and conservation of medicinal plants.

The ’Good Samaritans’ Orphanage which supervises Baka children intends to promote their culture by :
• Organizing environmental education sessions in schools and colleges to introduce young people to traditional knowledge on nature conservation and the fight against climate change ;
• Organize awareness-raising sessions with the Baka peoples for their participation in the preservation of nature and the fight against climate change ;
• Create a shop in Djoum to promote the know-how of the Baka peoples (medicinal plants and works of the PACL) ;
• List the traditional dances, sounds and rhythms as well as the manufacture of musical instruments based on vegetable strings and other percussion instruments of these forest peoples ...)
• Create a dance and cultural group of the Baka peoples for participation in various national and international festivals.
Indigenous peoples need to enhance their local culture in terms of sustainable management of biodiversity.

Mrs Sophie Rose ROBERTSON BILOUNGA, COMIFAC, Gabon, http/www.comifac.org

RESEARCH, PUBLICATION AND INNOVATION CYCLE AMONG ACADEMICIANS POSTER PRESENTATION - ABSENT

For teachers/lecturers who say they do not have anything to research amidst busy teaching duties, I would like to share how classroom ideas can turn into the research-publication-innovation (RPI) cycle. Pedagogical teaching methods are often reported as creative teaching ideas because no one method fits all students, in all situations.

The classroom contains a wealth of information and data for authentic academic writing. When teachers/academicians say; “I don’t have anything to write!”, the answer lies in the classroom environment. Firstly, the teaching methods used by teachers can be turned into creative innovations. Did the teacher improvise existing methods to suit different groups of students? How can the behaviour of students be used as data in a study? How can the behaviour of teachers be reported in a study? How can the activities be reported as data in a study?

Next, the classroom also contains many opportunities for data collection. When teachers say, “I don’t have time to write”, the answer lies in the everyday documentation done by the teacher. Teachers usually plan before-during-after lesson activities could incorporate short episodes of a data collection plan at every stage of the lesson activity. Firstly, a teacher/lecturer can plan at the start of the semester on the step-by-step method of a creative teaching method. Next, the teacher can begin preparing a survey/interview/open-ended questions to gain feedback on students’ reactions towards the creative teaching method. Throughout the semester, the teacher might want to document the creative teaching method with photographs of students performing the activities. When the semester ends, the teacher can make time to write and publish the data collected.

Figure 1 displays how one teaching idea can bloom into a few publications.

• (1) it all begins with a unique classroom idea by the teacher.
• Next, (2) the teacher then makes plans for a research write-up.
• Then, (3) the teacher publishes the research report.
• After that, (4) the instrument used in the study or the innovative idea can be given copyright through documentation.
• Now the teacher can prepare to (5) participate in an innovative competition for the creative idea.
• Next, this creative teaching method can be turned into a “how-to” (6) book,
• Finally, the teacher can (7) participate in another innovative competition to showcase the book!

So, my advice to teachers/academician, “write away!”

Mr Benjamin Nartey ODONKOR, BMAJ GIFTED FOUNDATION, Ghana, www.bmaj gifted foundation

OSI participatory research project, driving force behind sustainable tourism in the DRC POSTER PRESENTATION - ABSENT

The DRC, although rich in biodiversity among endemic flora and fauna, its extraordinary hydrography which offers spectacular rivers and majestic lakes is no longer an issue.

renowned destination. For more than 2 decades the existing tourist infrastructure has not been maintained and the dream destinations have not been exploited.

Several factors are at the base of this disinterestedness such as :
1. inter-border, ethnic, social and cultural conflicts ;

2. growing insecurity in the east in conservation areas and parks ;

3. non-compliance with commitments and texts governing the environment sector ;

4. vandalism, poaching, the aspect of other illegal practices, in particular corruption, etc . ;

Very aware of all these factors, we found it useful to develop a project called "MOPEPE YA SIKA" which means a new wind or a new impetus or a new formula.
This is an initiative that aims to set up an awareness campaign by 2030 with the aim of bringing politicians and decision-makers, scientists, tourism professionals and lawyers in general and in particular populations bordering conservation zones and protected areas to a real awareness in favor of the preservation and protection of biodiversity and the enhancement of our natural and cultural heritage, in order to make it a lever for sustainable local development via OSI participatory research projects.

And we believe that OSI participatory research projects as a tool for local development and science will contribute both to a path towards the empowerment of all actors and at the same time to the reduction of the time required to generate related solutions. :

1. the development of scientific projects on an international scale to attract much more confidence in the minds of people than just tourism ;

2. the socio-economic development of the places visited and therefore a certain reduction in poverty ;

3. job creation for young people ;

4.stability, lasting peace and the surrender of conflicts and wars through cultural exchanges of peoples who will get to know each other and share experiences

Mr Louison KALAMBAYI KIYONGE, ONG OSI-RDC, République Démocratique du Congo, www.osi-ngo.org/groupes-locaux/article/osi-republique-democratique-du-congo/

THE POSITION OF SPACE SCIENCES IN AFRICA: OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIALS POSTER PRESENTATION - ABSENT

The Moon, the Stars and the Sun in some extent even the Clouds in the Sky are regarded as sacred or gods by some African traditional religions which are at present in control of approximately 25% of the entire African population of approximately 900 million as at 2009. In this respect the followers of these traditional religions are there for restricted from studying the Moon, Sun, Stars or any other object above the atmosphere or the astronomy. However the religion of Islam and Christianity which are collectively in control of 70% of the African population have not restricted their followers from studying the Moon, Sun, Stars or the Astronomy, but however due to the presence of elements of astrology in the space sciences generally, which is a branch of studies many Africans use locally through studying the movements of Stars in the prediction of future events or in fortune telling businesses made the Space Sciences generally to be less attractive to both the Muslims and the Christians in Africa, hence this situation is making many young promising potential future astronomers, aerospace engineers, climatologist, metrologies or the astrologists in their early education (primary or secondary/high schools) end up studying non Space related sciences related courses in their University levels. Hence this situation has led to the underdevelopment of the space sciences generally in Africa and which also has the potential of under developing the future of space sciences at the global level too over time.

In view of the above and in order to expand the development of space sciences as a whole the under listed suggestions/recommendations were proffered which if adopted and implemented it will enhance the development of the space sciences at all levels;

1. Major stake holders in the space sciences like the United Nations Organization of the Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), National Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA) and many others should be helping in sponsoring and organizing Public enlightenment conferences, workshops, seminars or capacity building programs in Africa with the aim of developing the space sciences on the continent.

2. Religious scholars specially the Muslim, Christian and the African traditional religious scholars should be included in the capacity development programs towards developing the space sciences in Africa.

3. The international Space Organizations, especially those organizations that have excel or at the peak of the modern space sciences like the NASA, ESA and others should open their offices and possibly training institutes in Africa.

4. The international space organizations like the NASA, ESA and even the UNOOSA should be given scholarships to identified future space scientists in Africa that may not likely get the financial support to study the space sciences at the University level.

5. Papers and Abstracts coming from Africa should be given priority by organizers of conferences, workshops or seminars on the ground that many papers coming from Africa are towards developing the space sciences instead of being highly technical papers in this field of science, because the space sciences itself is not yet developed or recognized on the continent.

Conclusion
Africa will continue to under develop or even restrict the studies of space sciences with time, unless if the above listed suggestions/recommendations are adopted and implemented otherwise the rate at which the space sciences will continue to under develop will ever be on the increase.

Mr Babagana ABUBAKAR, Kanuri Development Association, Nigeria, https://web.facebook.com/Kanuri-Development-Association-KDA-554927154936244

THE EFFECT AND IMPACT RESEARCH FINDINGS OF CRUDE OIL EXPLORATION POLLUTION ON THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT & HEALTHCARE HAZARDST POSTER PRESENTATION

THE EFFECT AND IMPACT RESEARCH FINDINGS OF CRUDE OIL EXPLORATION POLLUTION ON THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT (BIODIVERSITY CONSEVATION & PROTECTION)

& HEALTHCARE HAZARDSTHROUGH LABORATORYANALYSIS AND DIAGNOSIS FOR A GUARANTEED CONSERVATION FOREST ENVIRONMENT , HEALTHCARE AND FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Mrs Kandi Faith Tum (Researcher-Author), Dr Tambe Romanus Kovu (Research Student-Co-Author);Dr Nnoko Danielo Ayompe (Research Student-Co-Author), Dr Apene Derek Aziwoh (Research Student-Co-Author) , Dr Betek Charles Otokini- PhD Research Student- Co-Author,Dr Mrs Lauryne Ewume Motomby: PhD Research Student-Clinical Analyst-Co-Author,Co Author) Dr. Betana Sirantis Mbiakaetapo(Research Student-Co-Author),Dr Tume Paul Njako-(Research Student-Co-Author) Dr. Mac-Queen Eseme Ebako, Dr Mrs.Jennifer Etiendem Mbekem (Researcher-Co-Author) Dr. Eugene Ulrich Ndjaka Bah (Doctorate Research Student-Co-Author) Dr.Mrs Esapa Elizabeth Yoh (Doctorate Research Student-Co-Author) Dr- Chambalain Nkengfack Njomo-PhD Research Co-Author), AREMCAM-CAMYFSDCAM, Cameroon, www.aremd.org

LE TRANSPORT ET LES OBJECTIFS DE DEVELOPPEMENT DURABLE EN AFRIQUE POSTER PRESENTATION

<docNNNN|left> Le but du présent article est double. Faire la synthèse des études réalisées sur le rôle du transport dans la progression des pays d’Afrique subsaharienne en direction des Objectifs de Développement Durable(ODD) et déterminer s’il serait souhaitable de définir pour le transport des objectifs spécifiques lui permettant de contribuer à la réalisation des Objectifs du Développement Durable, ou tout au moins de faire en sorte que la contribution de ce secteur soit mieux explicitée par les pays dans leur travail de planification et de suivi en rapport avec les ODD. Le transport n’est pas expressément mentionné dans l’énoncé des ODD qui a été signé par tous les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne, ainsi que par les pays donateurs et les pays en développement d’autres régions du monde, dans les mois qui ont suivi le Sommet du Millénaire des Nations Unies de septembre 2000. Il n’en reste pas moins que l’importance des infrastructures et des services de transport a toujours été reconnu. L’ancien Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies, M. Koffi Annan, de regrettée mémoire dans son rapport à l’assemblée Générale en septembre 2004, a parlé explicitement d’« investissements ciblés dans les infrastructures économiques et sociales » dans sa liste des cinq grands domaines où il faudra « faire un bond de géant, tant sur le plan matériel que dans nos ambitions » si l’on veut que les ODD soient atteints. À quelques exceptions près, comme la mortalité routière, la ponctualité des avions et des trains, ou encore le temps de rotation des navires, on utilisait jusqu’alors assez peu d’objectifs de performance généraux pour les transports, même dans les pays de l’OCDE, en partie à cause de la grande variété et de la spécificité des services fournis. Mais les choses sont en train de changer avec l’introduction des principes de « gestion fondée sur les résultats »d’une manière générale et le développement des contrats assortis de critères de performances, qui font que l’on s’intéresse aujourd’hui davantage à ce type d’objectifs.

Mr Julien Edmond TONYE BALEBA, Almutakamela Vehicules testing, Cameroon, info almutakamela.com

Cos4Cloud - Integrating Citizen Science in the European Open Science Cloud: Challenges and opportunities for developing a new generation of Citizen Science Observatories ORAL PRESENTATION

Citizen science is one of the eight priorities of the European Open Science Agenda, together with the creation of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). EOSC incorporates the European Commission’s vision of an extensive infrastructure to support and develop open science and open innovation in Europe and beyond. This new ecosystem provides a virtual environment for all researchers to store, manage, analyze, and re-use their products (software, data, among others.) for research, innovation, and educational purposes.

Within this framework, the H2020 ‘Co-designed Citizen Observatories Services for the EOS-Cloud’ project (2019-2022) aspires to integrate citizen science in the EOSC ecosystem. COS4CLOUD aims to develop essential research and technology to co-design and prototype innovative services to address critical challenges faced by citizen observatories. The final goal is to improve the implementation of existing and future citizen observatories and to contribute to ensuring their sustainability.
Based on several citizen observatories currently widely in use in Europe and some new ones such as the EU-Citizen.Science, a range of innovative services, will be co-designed, prototyped, and implemented. These innovative services range from tools for improving data and information quality using deep machine learning, automatic video recognition, advanced mobile app interfaces, and other cutting-edge technologies, as well as mechanisms to ensure the visibility and recognition of data contributors and the tools to improve networking between various stakeholders. The design of these new services is user-oriented, engaging a wide range of stakeholders in society (public sector, industry, SMEs, academia, education, and research agencies) to co-design requirements and satisfy user needs.

For co-design, developing, and testing services, COS4CLOUD will develop a diverse range of activities from datathons, hackathons, among others; as well as creating a space for knowledge exchange and sharing best practice. These activities could be a useful space for promoting the collaborative work between citizen observatories, especially in common challenges about infrastructure and technology. Likewise, enhance the networking between them and search for opportunities and solutions for their sustainability.

Apart from inviting the citizen science community to involve in COS4CLOUD, we will share the progress in some of the questions that COS4CLOUD is working on like: How these innovative services could contribute to the implementation of Open Science in Europe? Which are the potential connections with other ongoing initiatives (i.e. Eu-Citizen.Science, ...) ? What are the challenges faced by citizen observatories in terms of quality and interoperability? What are the opportunities that new technologies are bringing? How to implement FAIR data approach in citizen science and what is lacking in this approach from the perspective of citizen science?

Mrs Karen SOACHA, Mr Jaume PIERA, Mr Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ; Institute of Marine Sciences, Spain, http://www.cos4cloud-eosc.eu/

Developing metrics and instruments to evaluate the impacts of citizen science on society, governance, the economy, the environment, and science ORAL PRESENTATION

Citizen science is emerging as an important mechanism for informing policy, contributing to scientific discoveries and benefiting society. Currently, neither policymakers nor scientists have enough empirical evidence on how citizen science informs policy, contributes to scientific discoveries or benefits society overall. Innovative approaches and a more diverse array of citizen science evaluation tools are needed to understand citizens roles in the research cycle and to plan and implement projects in ways that lead to more effective scientific and policy outcomes. The Measuring Impacts of Citizen Science (MICS) project aims to develop these tools and test them on citizen science activities in the context of nature-based solutions (NBS).
NBSs are increasingly becoming part of policy and planning strategies, but multiple knowledge gaps have hindered their implementation and acceptance. For example, natural systems behave differently depending on ecosystem type, climate, location, condition and management, and therefore generalised assumptions about the functioning and impact of NBSs can be made only with caution. This has led to variations in their success and application. The effectiveness of NBSs depends to a large degree upon the perceptions regarding nature and upon the needs of stakeholders, such as citizens/public, user groups, conservation bodies, landowners, farmers, land managers, policymakers, practitioners. The challenges and knowledge gaps present in NBSs can be overcome by engaging citizens in the co-design and collection of scientific data relating to NBSs.
The MICS project evaluates the impact of citizen science activities in the context of NBS research [https://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index.cfm?pg=nbs]. The MICS specific objectives are:

• to provide comprehensive, participatory and inclusive metrics and instruments to evaluate citizen science impacts;
• to implement an impact-assessment knowledge-base through toolboxes for methods application, information visualisation, and delivery to decision-makers, citizens and researchers;
• to empower ordinary people, adopting and adapting the best practice generated by the Ground Truth 2.0 project [https://gt20.eu/] in the co-creation of hands-on citizen science validated in four case-study sites across Europe, resulting in a comprehensive conceptual framework and clear recommendations for those involved in citizen-science projects;
• to generate new approaches that strengthen the role of citizen science in supporting research and development;
• to foster a citizen-science approach to increase the extent to which scientific evidence is taken up by policymakers through specific recommendations.
  To achieve these objectives, MICS will: (1) develop metrics and instruments to measure costs and benefits of citizen science in relation to the NBSs, with particular attention in the domains of the environment, science, society, the economy, and governance; (2) provide an integrated platform to apply these metrics and instruments; (3) validate the best practice in the co-creation of hands-on citizen science by pilot testing in four case-study sites across Europe (in the UK, Italy, Hungary and Romania); and (4) produce a comprehensive conceptual framework and clear recommendations.
  The MICS project develops the approaches needed to evaluate citizen-science impact and creates an easy-to-use online tool that lets project managers and policymakers figure out how to maximise the positive impact. The four case study sites explore the applicability and usefulness of citizen science tools in regions with differing needs, contexts, conditions, constraints and approaches to NBSs, and with various levels of citizen-science application and uptake. In some of the sites selected, MICS adopts the Freshwater Watch method [https://freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org/] that citizens use to monitor nitrates and phosphates in freshwater ecosystems.
  The platform, the data and the totality of the results of MICS will be available for use by anyone involved in a citizen-science project wanting to understand its impact, whether at the planning stage or after the project’s conclusion. The impact-assessment tool is applicable to any citizen-science project, and MICS plans to integrate it into platforms like EU-Citizen.Science and COS4CLOUD. The project will help to demonstrate that the citizen-involvement in scientific projects has serious legs: that millions of people using apps to monitor the environment can make a difference.
  The new MICS metrics and instruments also help to measure the impact of citizen science with respect to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Meeting the targets is complex and we are way behind where we should be on nearly every goal. MICS and, in general, the European Commission’s investment in citizen science offer a rare opportunity to achieve a measurable impact.
  The MICS project provides the methodology and the tools which allow for the systematic evaluation of impacts of citizen-science projects across different domains (viz., society, governance, the economy, the environment, and science). Like any other intervention, the impact of citizen-science projects can be positive and negative, as well as intended and unintended. Finally, MICS provides the first in-depth analysis of how citizen science can impact research, development and societal learning, and how citizen science can be (or not) a policy pathway for decision-makers.

Mr Luigi CECCARONI, Ms Uta WEHN, Mr Steven LOISELLE, Mr Stephen PARKINSON, Ms Hannah JOYCE, Mr Marc NAURA, Mr Martin JANES, Mr Mohammad GHARESIFARD, Ms Sasha WOODS, Mr James SPRINKS ; Earthwatch, United Kingdom ; https://earthwatch.org.uk/

OSI-PANTHERA PROGRAM ORAL PRESENTATION

12 years in the service of the Snow Leopard. From scientific study, to the involvement of local populations, through environment education, OSI-PANTHERA is a human and nature adventure in perpetual motion.

Mr Bastien CHAIX, Objectif Sciences International, http://www.osi-panthera.org/

Iceland: Land of Ice and Fire ORAL PRESENTATION

Last summer, we went on a trip to Iceland. During this trip, we were able to explore a wide array of landscapes each presenting their own unique specialties. Iceland is a treasure for scientists around the world, we were able to discover numerous scientific fields such as geology, glaciology, volcanology and how these fields intertwine to create the Iceland we know today.
Mr Thomas RAVEL, Mr Alexandre RAVEL ; Objectif Sciences International, France, http://www.vacances-scientifiques.com/-EXCELLENCE-.html

3DEXPERIENCE Lab Museum of Innovation : A scalable, deployable & infinite virtual experience showcasing innovations contributing strongly to UN SDGs ORAL PRESENTATION

This is a video presentation by Frederic Vacher, Global Director and Head of Innovation - Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, where he will take you through a journey as he navigates the different projects in the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab in an immersive virtual environment, powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.
In late 2019, the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab unveiled a Virtual Lab, in the form of a “Museum of Innovation,” a scientific and technological virtual reality experience to show-case innovations from around the world. While 3DEXPERIENCE Lab has a physical presence in 3 locations, this Virtual Lab is available on the cloud – a format that renders the spirit of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab more accessible from anywhere in the world.
We map projects of candidate startups with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to understand their alignment and potential to make impact. Currently, we are accelerating:

• 11 startup projects focused on SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being),
• 3 projects on SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy),
• 3 projects on SDG 4 (Quality Education),
• 3 projects on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities),
• 2 projects on SDG 9 (Industry Innovation & Infrastructure),
• 2 projects on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities),
• 2 projects on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and more.
  From solar autonomous drones and sustainable energy production to 3D-printed organs and virtual surgery, this new 3D immersive experience offers a unique way for anyone to discover Lab’s disruptive projects addressing some of the world’s major challenges in health, well-being, energy, farming, mobility and other areas. As visitors virtually navigate through the “Museum of Innovation” using Augmented Reality devices, they experience each innovative project as an interactive, real-time multi-sensorial experience in 3D. Throughout this learning expedition, visitors can gain insight into a project’s background, understand how it contributes toward advancing the UN SDGs, and listen to the startup’s CEO, then delve further into the story by virtually experiencing scientific simulations and interacting with a digital twin of the project alongside its physical prototype.
  As this VR experience is available in a digital environment on the cloud, it is scalable and quickly deployable. Following this preview, Dassault Systèmes expects to extend access to the virtual museum to other countries where it is located, and partner with science museums to share the experience with the public.

Mr Frederic VACHER, Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, France, https://3dexperiencelab.3ds.com/en/projects/