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Project title

Catchment communities - an interdisciplinary ecosystem for citizen science

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Dublin City University (DCU)

Lead Applicant

Susan Hegarty

Project Abstract

Catchment Communities IECS aims to create a framework - a set of tools and protocols to ensure the success of citizen science projects for water quality monitoring which can be rolled out to a national scale. These tools and protocols will be available to the wider community of researchers who use citizen science methodologies, and can be used as a framework for a National Citizen Science Programme for water monitoring. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires European countries to monitor water quality on a catchment scale, measuring the biological quality elements, the physio-chemical quality elements, the priority substances and the hydromorphology to give an overall indication of the status of the water bodies within the catchment. If Ireland is to fulfil its obligations under the Water Framework Directive, it needs to engage citizens in the monitoring, reporting and safeguarding of water within catchments, both to fill gaps in reporting, and to involve communities in restoring water quality within catchments. As part of the 3rd River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), it is proposed that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) provide support for the development of a National Citizen Science Programme for the monitoring of water quality (DHLGH, 2021). Catchment Communities IECS aims to address these gaps to create a framework for a National Citizen Science Programme for water monitoring, which includes protocols and guidelines for effective consultation with communities. The project has interdisciplinarity at its core, with analytical science, anthropology, science communications, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology and citizen science integrated to create a project to develop a framework for a national citizen science programme, which includes parameters to understand and influence community practices and local environmental policy. Anthropological methods will also be applied, particularly ethnography, which can be crucial in capturing the lived experiences of community members and their interactions with local water bodies.

Grant Approved

630931.68

Research Hub

Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs

Research Theme

Social science, citizen science and behavioural science for climate action

Start Date

01/09/2025

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2029