New Blog: Citizen Science in the West Midlands

Citizen Science in the West Midlands

My name is Lydia Ashworth and I have been a Citizen Science Coordinator for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands since July 2023.

In this blog, you can find out about the Environment Agency’s ‘Supporting Citizen Science Project’ and some of the exciting innovations in this field that are happening in the West Midlands.

Citizen science is a form of scientific research conducted in whole or in part by amateur or non-professional scientists. It has grown rapidly in the UK over the past few years, particularly in the field of freshwater monitoring. This interest is important for the health of our local waterways and blue spaces and the data being collected has huge potential in helping to make the right decisions for catchment improvement.

The first phase of the supporting citizen science project has been running since April 22 and will finish in March 2025. To find out more, see Kelly Haynes’s blog: Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science and the Environment Agency’s Citizen Science Projects – Creating a better place (blog.gov.uk).

It has been a privilege to work with various teams on this project. Citizen science crosses many of our work streams and collaboration and communication is key to its success. Across our area we have been working with citizen science for many years, most notably through the national Riverfly scheme and through catchment partnership projects, many of which are managed by our catchment coordinators. See Weir making a real difference to water quality on the River Cole – Creating a better place (blog.gov.uk).

Read the full blog: Citizen Science in the West Midlands – Creating a better place (blog.gov.uk)