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Local project · Citizen science infrastructure

Zaragoza Citizen Science Observatory

A space to promote, support and showcase citizen science projects in Zaragoza

About the project

The Zaragoza Citizen Science Observatory (Zaragoza Citizen Science Observatory) grew out of the agreement to promote citizen science signed by Zaragoza City Council and Fundación Ibercivis on 26 September 2018 at Etopia, Centre for Art and Technology.

The Observatory promoted and publicised scientific activity carried out or led by people in and around Zaragoza. It also served as a repository of the city’s citizen science projects, whether completed, under way or in preparation, and as a focus of study for following how these practices evolved.

Anyone, individual or group, could propose a project, regardless of their background, profession, nationality or age. Projects that were accepted received technical and financial support, guidance and publicity.

Project objectives

  • Create a stable structure of resources and professionals to support any member of the public interested in starting a citizen science project.
  • Provide training in citizen science and support maker culture.
  • Find new citizen science projects in Zaragoza and raise the profile of existing ones.
  • Establish Zaragoza as a benchmark for citizen science.

The role of Ibercivis

Fundación Ibercivis set up and ran the Observatory together with Zaragoza City Council. It managed the calls for projects, assessed proposals and supported the projects selected.

Ibercivis also maintained the Observatory’s website and project catalogue, and organised open meetings with researchers, professionals and the public.

Our activities

  • Agreement signing and open day at Etopia (26 September 2018), presenting local projects such as MuralHunter, Mapeado Colaborativo and Micromascotas, and an Odour Collect workshop.
  • First Ibercivis call for citizen science projects (2018), to select projects led by members of the public.
  • Second Ibercivis call (2019): nine projects applied and two were selected to be developed in 2020, the Noise Pollution Map with IoT TTN and SmarTTrash 2030.
  • Support for the launch of the Zaragoza TTN network at Etopia (18 May 2019).
  • Open catalogue of citizen science projects in Zaragoza, with initiatives such as CanSat, Aragón Photo, Socio-Bee, Make It Special, Desafío Bajozero and the Zaragoza TTN network.
  • Open session on Citizen Science and Research in Zaragoza (Etopia, 16 December 2021), which led to a document, open to contributions, on making Zaragoza a European benchmark for citizen science (March 2022).
  • Sharing news and events about citizen science in the city, such as the Servet V launches and the open sessions at Etopia’s CESAR fabrication laboratory.

Gallery

Image of the Zaragoza Citizen Science Observatory project
Image of the Zaragoza Citizen Science Observatory project
Image of the Zaragoza Citizen Science Observatory project

Project details

Type of project

Local

Duration

2018 – 2022

Consortium

Zaragoza City Council and Fundación Ibercivis

Area

Citizen science infrastructure

Project website