Place-based Citizen Science for Water Conservation
This citizen science initiative applies the place-based approach for river watershed conservation through the application of the Eco-Heart Index. It involves activities where citizen volunteers work with researchers to collect and analyse scientific data to solve questions that are relevant to the sustainability aspiration of a particular area.
Download the manual
This manual will help you as a community worker, local resident, government officer or scientist working with the community to implement a water monitoring project, and to produce data about the water quality of your nearest water source. Whether you are someone who is keen about your local environment or a scientist, this resource will help you explore what affects the water, and how that impacts on your local community.
Place-based approach
We use a Place-based Citizen Science (PBCS) approach that considers place as central to how the science is done:
PBCS is the process of integrating biophysical, social and cultural understandings about environmental problems by giving status to local community needs, concepts and knowledge. It connects locally relevant scientific knowledge to the meaningful experiences of people, practices, and places.
Conference Video
Watch us talk about “place-based citizen science” during the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium in 2022.
manual preview
Eco-Heart Citizen Science
Eco-Heart Index use a ‘full’ or ‘broken’ heart shape as a symbolic representation of water quality scientific data. Visualisation can help citizen scientists and the public to understand the collected data and is an interpretive way to tell a story about the place.
manual preview
Water Quality Monitoring Kit
Scientists use water quality parameters to describe the health of water measurable by certain tools. Using a toolkit is an excellent way to monitor the water by collecting quantifiable and potentially valuable supporting evidence.
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What We Can Do For You
If you would like additional support or training please contact Sekitar Kita: sekitar.my@gmail.com
online training
Virtual training on how to design and implement citizen science programmes for water conservation using the Eco-Heart Index.
physical training
Physical training at the nearest water bodies (lake, river, stream) and learn how to use the water monitoring kit.
Citizen scientist training
Solving science together
Water collection from river
