How Networks of Citizen Observatories Can Increase the Quality and Quantity of Citizen-Science-Generated Data Used to Monitor SDG Indicators

There is a growing acknowledgement that citizen observatories, and other forms of citizen-generated data, have a significant role in tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This is evident in the increasing number of Sustainable Development Goals’ indicators for which such data are already being used and in the high-level recognition of the potential role that citizen science can play. In this article, we argue that networks of citizen observatories will help realise this potential. Drawing on the Cos4Cloud project as an example, we highlight how such networks can make citizen-generated data more interoperable and accessible (among other qualities), increasing their impact and usefulness. Furthermore, we highlight other, perhaps overlooked, advantages of citizen observatories and citizen-generated data: educating and informing citizen scientists about the Sustainable Development Goals and co-creating solutions to the global challenges they address.

(Image taken from the article by S. Woods et al., licensed under CC-BY)

Publish information

Publisher:	Sustainability
Year of publication:	2022
License:	Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
DOI:	10.3390/su14074078

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Language

English

Keywords

Education Citizen Science Citizen Observatory Sustainable Development Goals Interoperability Co-Design

Theme

Data Quality And Standards Impact

Category

Text : Scientific Publication

Audience

Policy & Decision Makers

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