SEI York’s citizen science research group has expertise in designing, running and evaluating citizen science projects on environmental sustainability topics.
We have particular expertise in air pollution, biodiversity, and health and well-being. We undertake research around the practice of citizen science, with a particular interest in citizen science participants, including who participates, what motivates them to participate and what they gain from participating. Our research is used to guide the design of citizen science projects to make them more inclusive and rewarding for those taking part.
We use our international network to explore the use of citizen science methods in the Global South, including how citizen science approaches can be used to make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. All of our projects are done in partnership with other organizations, including research organizations, NGOs, community groups, schools and local authorities. We also have a growing number of PhD students exploring a range of topics around citizen science projects. If you’d like to work with us on a project or as a PhD student, please get in touch with our Research coordinator.
Press release / Seven projects that will receive funding from the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+ to explore "Ecological Citizenship" have been announced.
Feature / In this Q&A, Rachel Pateman, a Research Fellow at SEI York, discusses the importance of inclusivity in volunteer biological recording.
Feature / On UK Clean Air Day, SEI York researchers explore the potential for UK-led initiatives to inspire and guide global policies and actions toward cleaner air.
Feature / Smriti explains how York residents can contribute to this international event by recording wildlife they see and why she is passionate about citizen science.
Journal article / By empowering communities and adopting participatory approaches, citizen science projects generate essential knowledge that informs decision-making processes.
Past event / Read findings and reflections from our citizen science air quality monitoring in UK schools as presented at the UKRI/Met Office Clean Air Programme Conference.
Project / SEI's Ecological Citizens project cultivates trans-disciplinary collaboration and research to enable a digital sustainable society for positive climate action.
Project / A citizen science project monitoring indoor air, created with and for UK schools.
Project / This project investigates air pollutants inside homes in the city of Bradford, UK: their sources, interactions and health effects on those living there.
Project / Investigating if and how hands-on experiences with nature impact values, attitudes and pro-environmental behaviour amongst secondary school students.
Project / Working with young people to co-design relevant mental health research by identifying priority research questions and addressing these.
Project / Exploring the feasibility of citizen science to improve WASH conditions in two districts of Mexico City.
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