Citizen science is research conducted with the help of the general public, where amateur, non-professional, and passionate individuals are provided with an opportunity to contribute to science. It serves as a medium to foster scientific curiosity and collaboration between scientists and society, enabling individuals to contribute to data collection, organisation, and analysis — which are key elements in evidence-based decision-making and addressing community challenges through research and policy initiatives. Additionally, it also helps alleviate the workload and conserve the bandwidth of scientists and experts, allowing them to focus better on advancing research and innovation.
Citizen science is research conducted with the help of the general public, where amateur, non-professional, and passionate individuals are provided with an opportunity to contribute to science. It serves as a medium to foster scientific curiosity and collaboration between scientists and society, enabling individuals to contribute to data collection,organisation, and analysis — which are key elements in evidence-based decision-making and addressing community challenges through research and policy initiatives. Additionally, it also helps alleviate the workload and conserve the bandwidth of scientists and experts, allowing them to focus better on advancing research and innovation.
Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC), is one of the eight knowledge clusters in the country, which aims to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including scientists, government officials, and citizen representatives, to solve regional challenges and problems using an ecosystem approach. Rooted in this vision, PKC has conceptualised two citizen science programmes that leverage the strengths and skills of citizens for advancement of the science and technology ecosystem:
ConnecTree: Citizen-enabled Digital Monitoring of Sapling Plantations and Carbon Growth Estimations
One Million Galaxies: Understanding galaxy formation and morphology through citizen-driven data collection
Priya Nagaraj, CEO, PKC, elaborates more about the programmes,
The citizen science programmes at PKC have been a culmination of PKC’s efforts in the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Sustainability and Environment verticals. The programmes are designed to leverage high-end technology to help citizens collect and analyse data effectively and also contribute towards building large and open-source databases. Depending on the complexity and significance of the data, citizens may participate solely in data collection or also in analysis. They receive online or on-ground training to equip them with relevant scientific knowledge to engage in such initiatives.”
Through the ConnecTree programme, citizens can help in monitoring sapling growth, survival and biodiversity in a particular region. Anita Kane, Senior Advisor at the Environment and Sustainability vertical, stresses the participatory nature of the programme where interested stakeholders, including civic bodies, NGOs as well as corporates can contribute towards maintaining as well as enhancing the biodiversity and green cover within a particular region by monitoring sapling growth.
Local civic bodies in Pune, such as Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Smart City, have collaborated with PKC for this initiative. Ashok Ghorpade, Chief Garden Superintendent of PCMC says, “According to Maharashtra (urban areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, there is a provision to adopt and nurture trees by citizens and government bodies, which is in line with PKC’s ConnecTree programme; and we are glad to collaborate with them for monitoring the saplings planted through our garden department.”
Sanjay Kolte, former CEO of Pune Smart City adds “PKC’s “ConnecTree” programme has tremendous synergy with the plantation initiatives of Pune Smart City, especially in the Aundh-Baner-Balewadi regions. The community engagement aspect of this programme is an important step in deepening the connection between the smart city and the citizens; as well as between the environment and the citizens.”
By enrolling in this programme, citizens can ‘adopt’ a sapling through geo-tagging, which allows all the data related to that sapling to be recorded on an AI-enabled, web-based platform developed in-house by PKC. On-ground training regarding data collection and usage of the platform is provided by the PKC team as per requirement.
PKC routinely collaborates with NGOs as well as colleges to engage residents and students in this programme.
Sikandar Ghodke, a senior citizen associated with the NGO- Environment Conservation Association (ECA), says,
Being a shepherd and butcher by profession, I have always felt strongly about invasive species that soak up all the groundwater and hamper the healthy growth of native species. Being a part of a programme such as ConnecTree helps me in my aim towards making the country free of ‘white-top weed’, which is not only invasive but also has adverse effects on cattle grazing.”
Through this programme, PKC has engaged over 200 citizens, onboarded four NGOs and four colleges and mapped over 900 saplings on the platform through five mini-projects across the city. Along with this, PKC is also piloting the use of drones for data collection, especially for large-scale plantations undertaken by PCMC.
PKC’s second citizen science programme- One Million Galaxiess, lies on the other end of the spectrum, where one can go from the earth to the sky and help astronomers gain important information regarding various galaxies.
Ajit Kembhavi, founder, PKC, Emeritus Professor, Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), who has also been instrumental in setting up the One Million Galaxies programme, says, “Together with experts from IUCAA, Pune and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru the programme is conceptualised with an aim towards understanding galaxy formation and identifying the galaxy morphology by studying the different structures such as spiral arms, bars and rings in the galaxies.”
The features are analysed from the galaxy images taken by the Subaru Telescope located in Hawaii. Sudhanshu Barway, Associate Professor at IIA, while explaining the rationale behind choosing a particular set of images says, “We opted to showcase these particular images, due to the availability of an extensive dataset, which would provide us with the deepest exposure capable of capturing even the faintest features within galaxies. Examining these galaxies promises to unveil valuable nuances that will enhance our understanding of their formation and evolution.”
In order to collect and store information gathered by the citizens, PKC has built an in-house web-based platform where citizens can enroll to join this programme. Enrolled citizens are provided with online training, which empowers them with the necessary information required for identifying galaxy features.
Currently, over 1900 citizens across India as well as other countries have been enrolled on the platform including individuals from all walks of life- such as school students, homemakers as well as senior citizens.
Amod Rairikar, a senior citizen, who has been a part of this programme since the past two years shares his experience, “As they say, age is just a number! Even though I am 72 years old, my passion for astronomy has not faded at all. Being a part of the One Million Galaxies programme has been a fantastic experience for me as it provides me with an avenue to keep learning new things about the galaxies and contribute towards the knowledge from the comfort of my home or wherever I am!”
Chhaya Sawant, who retired from her bank job a few years ago and is now pursuing her lifelong passion for writing as well as contributing to the housing society’s routine work says, “Even though I do not have any background in science, this platform provides me with an avenue to utilise my time in an innovative and sustainable manner, while also enhancing my knowledge and observation skills.”
Astronomy being my favourite topic, learning more about spiral galaxies through this programme has been a very enjoyable and informative exercise for me!”,
says Sanvi Shanbag, a student of the Lexicon International School, Wagholi, Pune, who might be the youngest citizen scientist associated with this programme.
While citizen science in India has immense potential, key challenges for implementing such programmes are scalability and diversification. The vigilance of citizens can be utilised to monitor pertinent issues within the region and then reward them with better urban planning, policies and governance. For these different citizen science themes to materialise, PKC depends upon citizen groups, as well as interested and committed stakeholders. If you wish to get in touch with PKC and help in the co-conceptualisation of a citizen science programme having multi-dimensional results, get in touch: contact@pkc.org.in