Case Study on Developing a Citizen Science Protocol for Microplastics in Lake Tahoe
Abstract
Microplastics are an emerging contaminant, and the issue of microplastics in freshwater systems has been drawing significant public attention in recent years. Citizen science can be a natural complement to enable public engagement in high-profile issues such as these. Citizen science involves public participation in research, in which volunteers contribute to the scientific process in a meaningful way, such as through data collection. The aim of this case study is (1) to document the process of developing a citizen science protocol for a microplastics study in Lake Tahoe, and (2) to share our insights from the process of making this protocol socially relevant for our partners, volunteers, and the community as a whole. The results shared will include a general overview of the protocol for collecting microplastics data from stormwater and sediment samples and the process we took to develop the protocol in partnership with the League to Save Lake Tahoe, a 501(c)(3) environmental advocacy group in South Lake Tahoe, California. We will also share insights we gleaned from a focus group conducted with citizen scientist volunteers at the League. Finally, we will share a series of questions that we have found important to consider when developing a citizen science program, specifically that focus on the social factors that can make a project more successful. These include alignment with values present in volunteer communities, identifying target audiences, and identifying possible gaps in our own knowledge about target audiences and their relationships to study sites and emerging issues. We hope this case study will stimulate discussion on the process of developing a viable citizen science protocol for other researchers who are considering employing this approach to data collection.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.H43O2283C
- Keywords:
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- 1803 Anthropogenic effects;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1834 Human impacts;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1871 Surface water quality;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1879 Watershed;
- HYDROLOGY