T’ephra Bag citizen science project: initial findings
- 1Trinity College Dublin, iCRAG, Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences, Dublin, Ireland
- 2University College Dublin, iCRAG, Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences, Dublin, Ireland
We report the initial findings of the ‘T’ephra Bag citizen science project, a one-year pilot study that commenced in October 2019. This initiative, which is directed at primary school students and their families, aims to test the chemical weathering potential of tephra (volcanic ash) when buried in a pot of local soil and planted with a common grass species. A parallel aim is to raise awareness among participants of the potential of geological-based solutions for climate change through the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere. A second aim of the project is to investigate participants’ perceptions of climate change and carbon emission reduction technologies and to test the effectiveness of such citizen science initiatives in changing the attitudes and perceptions of school children.
How to cite: Kwasniewska, K., Lacchia, A., Schuitema, G., and McElwain, J.: T’ephra Bag citizen science project: initial findings, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-19065, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-19065, 2020
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Dear Kamila, Anthea
It was great to talk with you and everyone during this session. It was really useful – and all the talks happen so fast - so catching up now!
Your citizen science project aimed to primary school children with the volcanic ash I can see creates a great scope to build community education and a tactile engagement with earth sciences.
Some points from our chat:
John: Anthea - this sounds like this approach could map into distance learning opportunjty - mediated by post, zoom meet-ups. An interactive science experiment - based on citizen participation. Can you roll this out in the 'new normal ways of working' that is the reality for us all now?
Anthea: @John that's a great idea. We are hoping to make the project operational via distance learning. The only problem is that samples need to be analysed in a lab (and posted) so we would need labs to be open
It will be good to hear how this develops.
I also thought our conversations about the reflexive framework Audrey and myself discussed during these chat conversations were very helpful, and are applicable more widely for the initiatives the iCRAIG team are developing. Do keep in touch, I think it would be very useful to continue and further develop how these reflexive aspects can also contribute to the science and perception work. I’m at j.bruun@exeter.ac.uk.
best John