OTTERS – Citizen Science for Water Stewardship

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Descrição

The OTTERS project is about encouraging positive and effective change in how we care for our oceans and freshwater through citizen science. A key focus is working together to design Citizen Science campaigns that empower people to take action in protecting our water resources. OTTERS focuses on three key objectives: protecting and restoring ecosystems, eliminating pollution, and promoting a sustainable blue economy.

OTTERS has developed three examples of Co-Created Toolkits. These are available for anyone who’s interested and can help organize a co-creation session and launch a campaign to inspire a deeper connection and responsibility toward water stewardship. 

The toolkits provide teachers and students with resources to organize campaigns and participate in Citizen Science projects. In these projects, the public collaborates with professional scientists on activities like data collection, analysis, and reporting. Citizen Science aims to solve real-world problems, expand scientific knowledge, and engage participants in the scientific process through hands-on learning.

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Como utilizar este recurso

Start by exploring the three Co-Created Toolkits provided by OTTERS. Each toolkit includes detailed guides, resources, and templates to help organize Citizen Science campaigns focused on water stewardship.

You can choose activities from the toolkits that align with the interests and goals of your community or group and customize these activities to address local water-related challenges and opportunities. Encourage collaboration to develop innovative campaign ideas that promote water conservation and protection.

Implement the co-created campaign ideas in your community and engage participants in hands-on Citizen Science projects, such as data collection, analysis, and reporting, to address real-world water issues. Reach out to the OTTERS project team to share your campaign successes and discuss opportunities for further collaboration.

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Os recursos

Toolkit for Portugal Clean Beaches PDF

You can find here the two additional examples of co-created toolkits:

• Toolkit for Italy Floating Litter

• Toolkit for Armenia River & Lake Pollution

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Resultados da aprendizagem

• Obter conhecimentos prévios e aprofundar o conhecimento e a compreensão dos conceitos-chave da Cidadania para a Sustentabilidade, desafiando as visões do mundo e os valores estabelecidos.
• Através de actividades de workshops e de comunidades de prática, desenvolver capacidades e agência enquanto educadores e líderes da Cidadania para a Sustentabilidade.

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Competências verdes

• Incorporar valores sustentáveis: Valorização da sustentabilidade; promoção da natureza
• Abraçar a complexidade na sustentabilidade: Pensamento sistémico; Pensamento crítico; Enquadramento de problemas
• Perspectivas de futuros sustentáveis: Futures Literacy; Adaptability; Exploratory Thinking
• Agir em prol da sustentabilidade: Political Agency; Collective Action

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Creative Commons

The Co-created Toolkits were created by the OTTERS Consortium and is shared here by their kind permission.

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ODS