Citizen Science Day in Ostrava

Alena Fornůsková, a scientist at the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, is involved not only in research but also in popularisation of science. She applied this during her study of the spread of the white-toothed shrew in the Czech Republic. Students were introduced to this small insectivore, which somewhat resembles a shrew and has only recently appeared in the country and begun to spread. Since it is often caught in rodent traps, the public was involved in monitoring its presence. Through this lecture, students learned that when scientists and the public join forces, a lot of interesting information can be discovered quickly and cost-effectively.

A lecture by Michael Lažan, ambassador of citizen science in the Czech Republic, focused on engaging students in discussions and data practices. He presented the project by the Senzorvzduchu association, which involves citizens in air quality monitoring using DIY sensors. He explained the principles of citizen science to the students and offered them a way to actively contribute to environmental protection and understand how air quality affects our health.

Educators from the Ostrava Museum, Tomáš Ocásek and Kristina Gurecká, introduced students to the iNaturalist app. This popular application makes it easy to document and share nature observations. They taught students how to use the app to identify various plant and animal species, and they practiced directly in the field. They also shared information about the global event City Nature Challenge, which supports monitoring biodiversity in urban areas. Students learned how they can contribute to understanding city nature and become part of a global research effort.

The present students had the opportunity to discover the fascinating world of citizen science and thanks to the EOSC CZ Training Centre, they learned how easy it is to become part of this global activity and contribute to scientific data collection.

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