Young Hydrologic Society

A Streams of Thought contribution by Paola Mazzoglio and Miriam Bertola.

The potential of  citizen science in hydrology

Citizen scientists (i.e., volunteers who help conducting tasks in scientific research) have the potential to play an important role in hydrology. The main advantage of Citizen science initiatives is that they engage a broad range of individuals since no previous knowledge of the research topic is needed, including ordinary people, students, and educators, and both sides benefit from this collaboration. On the one hand, these initiatives are opportunities to disseminate scientific knowledge and awareness to the public about water-related challenges. On the other hand, citizens contribute to collective tasks that speed up scientific research.

The role of citizen scientists is generally the collection and the analysis of data on water resources or on some component of the water cycle, mainly in terms of quantity and quality. This includes taking measurements of streamflow, rainfall, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters using simple, low-cost tools such as meters, test kits, computers and smartphones. Citizen scientists can, for example, collect water samples for laboratory analysis, which provide information on nutrient levels, sediment loads, and the presence of contaminants. In addition to collecting data, citizen scientists can assist in analyzing and interpreting it.