Citizen Science Africa
A New Network Of Citizen Science Leaders
Specialist Course
Citizen science is changing conservation efforts across the world. This rapidly growing approach is revolutionizing how environmental data is gathered and shared, and normalizing the engagement of citizens in contributing to science.
The potential for Africans to use citizen science as a tool for protecting and managing biodiversity is huge, and one way to help boost its engagement is through capacity building. However conservation managers in Africa often lack skills needed to engage with citizen scientists and design protocols for the effective collection of data. Equally important, there needs to be the capacity to analyze and use citizen science data so that it can be used to inform conservation policy and management. The TBA’s training courses provide these skills.
What We Cover
TBA has created a portfolio of modules to give conservation scientists the range of skills they need to become effective conservation science managers. We ensure these skills are practical and relevant so that participants are equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of their own citizen science projects. The themes we cover include:
- Designing robust protocols for citizen science projects
- Analysing data and generating outputs (such as distribution maps, graphs showing trends over time or infographics)
- How to engage, motivate and train citizen scientists
- How to be citizen science leaders
- Skills in communicating to a variety of audiences including decision makers
The courses are participative and use case studies, practicals and interactive talks. Our training is relevant to the challenges and opportunities of participants’ own citizen science projects. The courses result in new and active networks that participants use to share their successes and collectively solve problems. Several new projects have been launched as a result of TBA’s training and we have also catalysed an active citizen science network across Africa called CISCA.
Track Record
TBA ran a successful programme (called CISCA) for aspiring citizen science managers in Africa. You can see the impacts of CISCA – in this summary piece and in this webinar. This three-year programme translated citizen science biodiversity monitoring into more effective decision making for conservation. TBA designed and led the programme in collaboration with University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology, the British Trust for Ornithology, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Kenya Bird Map Committee, with funding from Cambridge Conservation Initiative.
Who is this course for?
We run courses for different levels of experience. They are for conservation managers who wish to set up citizen science projects as well as for established citizen science managers who wish to increase the impact of their projects. You can hear about the work of one of our trainees here. TBA is now planning to run this course in regions beyond Africa.
What Our Attendees Say
“I analysed environmental trends that were useful for policy-makers for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of the Karura urban forest.”
Mary Kageni
Kenya