Educate, Explore, and Conserve: Integrating Citizen Science into Ukrainian School Curriculum

Executive Summary

This project intends to establish a practice of research and creating data through school and pupil participation to allow a fuller understanding of the environment. The aim is to roll it out nationwide so that the practise of BioBlitzes becomes a national event. A planned BioBlitz workshop will be used as a start providing a template to be followed by other citizens, ecologists, and naturalists on how to survey natural habitats across the whole of Ukraine; collecting data and providing a broader understanding of contemporary conservational roles. Additionally, environmental studies dissertation help will be available to support researchers in integrating these findings into academic work. This study gears towards the implementation of Citizen Science into school curriculum and to develop a deeper understanding of its purpose among citizens, educational institutions, school children and naturalists.

This study is situated at Berestechko in Western Ukraine, where the historical and ancient park locally based. School children with guidance by experienced naturalists, undergraduate volunteers, ecologists and teachers of biology will participate in biological recording of many species as possible in a given location during a 24-hour time period. The data to be collected will include distribution by Taxa, species identification with the help of experts, and abiotic and biotic readings. The data collected data will be presented on a free blog with scientifically engaging information, colourful photos, and updates of future projects and events, which are going to happen in the local park.

This study strives to remain within the provided financial constraints and minimize probable challenges likely to emerge during the entire study period. The most important element of this study encompasses encouraging the community to take part in the study and informing them of the importance of conservation and protecting the vulnerable environment in which they live in. The morale of the population is low based on the war with Russia, and high levels of corruption and poverty. Despite the hostile economic and social factors, the younger generation is educated and intelligent, and hope to find an ecological right path to reach out to and understand the catastrophic implications of nature’s destruction. To avail necessary information to the public audience is not sufficient in orienting their respective behaviours and attitudes towards preservation and conservation of nature (Irwin, 2016). It is crucial to construct positive emotional attachment with nature. The main aim is to create awareness, collaboration and knowledge in safeguarding and enhancing the conservation of wildlife through environmental education among citizens. From the scientific realm, the aim is to build an important spacious databank in small protected areas, which will only expand and be added to a national databank providing a comprehensive understanding species, dissemination, vulnerability, future management and ethical appreciation.

Introduction

Citizen science refers to the public participation scheme organized to aid research; where people dedicate their leisure time to interact in scientific activities and processes. Conrad and Hilchey, (2011) noted that Citizen Science as an active engagement in scientific research is protracting, more networked and more ambitious. Beyond snapping numerous pictures of fauna and flora and monitoring pollution, people and constructing Geiger counters to evaluate the prospects of radiation magnitudes, and photographing statistic waters assist in the documentation of how water borne disease spread.

In contemporary days, Citizen Science projects have been extremely effective based on the swift development of modern technologies such as the Internet and the accessibility of powerful hand-held devices (Devictor, Whittaker and Beltrame, 2010). Many Citizen Science projects involve people in monitoring ecological variations over wide geographic areas. These activities are important in establishing an understanding of the impacts of environmental pollution, landscape use change, global climate change, species extinctions, distributions, and ecosystem health. The collaboration between the public and scientists can achieve significant data for better understanding, analysis and can provide answers to important questions about species abundance, distribution, movement, annual cycles, and behaviour (Dickinson, 2012).

This study finds the conception of Citizen Science in Ukraine a convenient idea in collecting scientific data, as well as building up a social and global network not only for significant Ukrainian National parks, but for other local conservation sites too. It is impossible to claim what the biodiversity picture is today in Ukraine without having current data on all the small-scale natural habitats, which together creates a whole picture of biodiversity (Dickinson, Zuckerberg and Bonter, 2010).

The aim of the project is to get people, especially children, outdoors to reconnect with the natural world and practically interact with the environment through learning, observing and monitoring. Gathering people of all ethic and economic backgrounds for better understanding and proposing of what can be done to save Ukraine’s natural environment (Beck, 1991). This is a new approach to the process of learning and getting useful data through systematic research.

Based on ‘The Fifth National Report of Ukraine to the Convention on Biological diversity’ Citizen Science is not a widespread prospect in the Ukraine. Ukrainian Government conducts an annual awareness of educational activities and campaigns on the occasions of ecological dates and festivals; however, it does not have a significant impact on comprehensive understanding of current ecological issues in Ukraine among its population. It is necessary to introduce to the Ukrainian people the concept of Citizen Science through the BioBlitz, which can be a starting point and important example in collecting data locally, but which could become nationwide.

Aims and Objectives of the Study

1. Increasing awareness of ecological and environmental issues locally

2. Support Social awareness of the environment

3. Support the local economy through ecotourism and promote the prestige of the town

4. Improve educational and social connectivity

5. Support and enrich school curriculum

6. Support local business, agriculture and councils

7. Drive future aspirations in scientific research and conservation

8. Counteract corruption

9. Protect designated areas through research and data collection

At the end of the workshop people will organise a celebration with participants as a successful event by collecting important species data and highlighting the importance and value of the data through Citizen Science, which has probably never been done for small designated sites in Ukraine.

Background Information

Berestechko is a historical town in Volyn region along River Styr. The population of the town constitutes of about 1711 people. The landscaped garden park, which includes the palace, river and meadows, was prominent in the 19th century with its exclusive design and exotic trees and plants. Today the park has lost its authentic beauty due to poor management and lack of enough understanding of the value of the site and the environment at large.

Nowadays, the ancient park enjoys legal protection and has been locally designated. The ancient site has at least 60 different species of trees and shrubs. The species of plants, invertebrates and mammals in the park are unknown and some of them are visibly and significantly declining in number. A few years ago, the local authorities conducted a sanitary logging, destroying some indigenous trees, which were an important habitat for red squirrels and woodpeckers. Besides, the authority managed to sell good and healthy timber for £630.00. It has been scientifically proven that indiscriminate logging reduces biodiversity. Dead and decomposing wood is the main component of traditional woodlands supporting a wide array of specialist invertebrates, epiphytic lichens, fungi, birds and mammals. Local planning authorities should be strongly advised in the future how and why to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

Over the past years, the Russian military and its allies have induced a bloody war against Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The war has led to the demise of more than 13,000 people, rendered about two million people homeless, and inflicted untold material damage and ecological destruction. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have access to external funding from Charities or Trusts, which could develop and boost ecological projects and it relies solely on Government funding, which is not significant at all (Nugent, 2018). The project in Berestechko intends to achieve not only scientific knowledge and data of local biodiversity, but also detract the public from the tragedy of war engaging the general public in BioBlitz project in an ambitious, interesting and hilarious manner.

Education for conservation

Today the Ukrainian educational program does not integrate the concept of environmental education into its educational programmes. Ecology, as a subject, has been completely omitted in secondary schools, high schools, colleges although there are a few optional courses at University level (Tweddle et al., 2019). Besides, current educational system of Ukraine is strictly centralized with limited self-government in higher education. Various programmes on environmental education are neither well-structured nor systematic and therefore the education system has limited courses available, with some university offering training courses only on areas such as Fundamentals of Ecology; within a degree on Health, Safety and Civil protection.

Due to the lack of enough experienced and qualified teachers, insufficient scientific literature and limited modern high-quality computer database (as required by European standards and regulations Strategy UNECE), the level of training of Ukrainian specialists-ecologists remains low (Beljavskaja, 2009). In addition, the major weaknesses of Ukrainian Environmental Education in Ukraine are embedded on low motivation of students and low employability of graduates. However, more recently there has been a slow dynamic in creating ecological clubs with young participants in the Ukraine, and there is now an opportunity to expand knowledge about the environment. For Berestechko it would be the first educational and scientific project as nothing has been done before.

Research Methodology

Planning

To develop a BioBlitz project in Ukraine will require a primary permission from the Environment Agency of Volyn Region, the local authority of Berestechko, as well as Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University to help with conducting any processes of educating the public and scientific researches in the park.

Thus, study will recruit a professional Project Coordinator who will also be required to travel abroad and oversee the project. The candidate must have a good knowledge in similar projects and an experience in community engagement. The leader of the project will be responsible of managing the framework, communicating with the authorities, conducting workshop, effective cost planning and developing cooperative work with citizens.

Before launching the project, the coordinator will develop a project plan, including: health and safety requirements; prepare advertisements to attract volunteers from citizens and school children, plus one for student volunteers’ placements; acquire equipment; and maintain a free blog, where all information will be presented. During the project the coordinator should carry out meetings with participants, with further discussions, analysis and update of vital findings and important information.

As citizens of the European Union Member country, British Citizen passport holders can penetrate Ukraine without necessarily having a visa for visits of up to 90 days within 180-day period. The coordinator will stay in Berestechko, and be supplied with a good access to the authorities, 2G Internet connection.

The Western part of Ukraine is noted for low criminal activities as the safety of both the co-ordinator and volunteers is a priority. In addition, majority of Ukrainian people, especially in rural areas do not speak English, the coordinator will employ an interpreter.

BioBlitz implementation

Citizen Science has traditionally reflected on balanced research and educational goals through citizen and student’s data collection in massive monitoring and research projects (Bonney et al., 2014). In so doing, Citizen Science has stimulated thinking and programs that address issues more generally of public participation in scientific research (Bieling et al., 2016). There is a great need for citizen science approaches within the disaster and conflict relief and mitigation communities.

Literature examining the effects of outdoor activities and environmental education programs on children’s’ environmental attitudes and behaviours have focused on short-term effects. School children involved in residential programs, laboratory works, field observations of plant and animals, soil experiments; did plant trees and flowers, recycled wastes, learned about forest ecology, went camping and hiking (Tulloch et al., 2013). The result of the study was positive and indicated a greater improvement in environmental attitudes and behaviour by children who have had some exposure to environmental education programs compared with children who have not (Bodzin 2008). BioBlitz is a perfect approach in engaging enthusiastic individuals interested in biodiversity conservation as it also allows them to participate in biodiversity surveying and monitoring.

BioBlitz is a detailed and complete wildlife audit, a 24-hour snapshot in the park with the opportunity to discover what species live there (Louv, and Fitzpatrick, 2012). With a well-planned oversight, participants may collect enormous quantities of local species and biodiversity data. Equally a BioBlitz builds connections between scientists and local communities, promoting a sense of pride for the scientific work being done in the community. Additionally, BioBlitz can lead to discoveries of species not previously observed in an area, or new species to science. This study’s objective will be to find a list of certain target species. Planning and running a BioBlitz gives organizations the opportunity to showcase their work while building community relations and inspiring new generations of scientists and naturalists. Besides, it gives the public an opportunity to contribute to a genuine scientific survey.

The event will be held on 9th of May during a public celebration of the Victory day over Nazism in the park. The best place to deploy a basecamp would be in the lower part of the park close to the river Styr, where a large number of people can gather together. Majority of participants would be local people; however, the parking spaces will be provided for guests outside of the park with additional information of public transport links. In advance, to enhance the successful outcome of event, the study suggests for the creation of an ecological youth club would be useful, as it would be fundamental in developing a strong collaboration with schools and would guarantee the attendance participants during the planned activity. A few weeks before the main event children can learn how to use resources wisely and put their effort into the battle against climate change, a sustainable environment and biodiversity conservation.

The study recommends to pre order bio toilets, tent and catering would be beneficial for event. Therefore, to achieve a successful result of the project it will require the recruitment of volunteers to help out with the smooth running of all the activities. There is a need to purchase a first aid kit with water, extra bandages on hand to deal with minor on-site injuries.

The chosen area of study has an interesting historical background, which is protected by law. The charisma of the park is in ancient trees, winter and migrating birds and biodiversity abundance. The most important task of the event is to engage school children, students and citizen to create a fun day to find strong link between a comprehensive understanding of nature and people actions. The attitude and perception of the local environment has to be changed to one of appreciation and further the work of conserving natural resources. Young people will be divided into working groups with a particular focus on specific taxa groups e.g. plants, fish, birds, molluscs, insects, crustaceans and mammals, and will get help from professionals in species identifying.

Citizen should be proud of living in such unique environment, which is now in need of better protection in the future. From the scientific point of view, with the help of iNaturalists and the coordinator, field guides such as biology teachers, students, participants can identify the species, genus, or family for each observation. Smartphone innovations and applications such as iNaturalist make the process of data collection easy as a component of a BioBlitz. Comprehensive data which is uploaded to iNaturalist is a crucial element of Global Biodiversity Information Facility; an open source database utilised by scientific and policy makers around the world. It would make BioBlitz data useful both locally and worldwide.

However, not all participants own smartphones, so a paper data sheets will be provided to record particular species, in a particular area and date. The main aspects of the record will be: name of who submitted it (some may need to be verified so a contact point is useful); what the species is (identification charts can help and so can volunteers); when it was observed and where it was (time and date). Elderly students and volunteers will harness large butcher paper and markers to draw a map framework demonstrating how species are distributed in the study area. The species will be cautiously wrapped and attached the species identification cards to the map visually and display the concept of biodiversity for other participants. The maps of the local park will be provided with GPS and compasses.

This study intends that the event be full of fun and create an engaging experience through the competition (to find from the list provided endangered species and get a small prize for it). Volunteers will take infants on the adventure track for a treasure hunting, which involves many interesting facts about nature and species identification. The experiences will grant participants capacities to develop positive affinity towards nature. In addition, there will be a local craft man demonstrating how to weave baskets and little traditional fens and teaching all desirous to learn the skill.

Making infants informed about the importance of conserving the environment grants them a reason in their own conservation and planting efforts; forming a basis to protect and preserve the environment through caring for current trees and planting new ones. Unfortunately, many trees were cut down in the park so it would be very important to plant new ones with citizen help and educate why conservation is so important nowadays.

Eventually, at the end of event the report would be presented with species discovery in the park, analysing the various taxa and its abundance. The participants will be encouraged to share their experience through photos on social networks platforms including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, making BioBlitz popular and successful not only in Berestechko, but being a good example of inspiring other areas to follow across the whole of Ukraine. Students hopefully will be inspired and carry out the activity further, creating a research program throughout the year involving its entire environmental program around the BioBlitz finding. Strong collaboration and support between students and the coordinator are desired.

As with all successful events citizen and guests would have an opportunity to enjoy a picnic and dancing.

The project is likely to be faced with some challenges. One of them is convincing local authorities of the need for the project and the value of natural capital. Also, it can be seen from past actions of local authorities, how hard it is to protect the environment when financial gain is paramount to the local economy. The most important task would be changing established mind sets, beliefs and practices (such as moving, logging and burning) among community, environment agency and local authorities.

The resources of recruitment and advertising will be conducted through social media, national and local news, press and magazines. It is very important to make sure, that during the project teachers of biology, naturalists, students of university take a main role in guiding, support and professional help in running of successful event.

Ethical Consideration

Health and Safety matters will be properly given preference since the park under study has a river, which is main hazard for school children. The study will ensure no harm will be induced to both participants and species under examination. Risk assessment forms will be completed in advance to identify potential harms and prepare mitigation and prevention measures. The study will work with local site management to determine their planned response to emergencies, including procedures for transporting a participant or staff member in the case of injury. It is, however, the parents’ responsibility to look after their children and make sure that they are safe while walking around the river. BioBlitz is not involved in killing or harming found species. It would be clearly explained how to safely handle and study found species and release them back into nature in the same place previously found (Weitkamp, 2016).

Pathways to Impact

Attaining optimal publicity of environmental conservation in Ukraine will not be an easy task. The key of interpreting, analysing and storing collected data in the Ukrainian National Database is scientifically essential for a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity in Ukraine. It is important that the BioBlitz project be taken seriously and develops a strong collaboration between the Environment Agency Volyn Region and the project itself. All data collected would be presented to authorities and public, which can join a free blog on a platform such as BlogSpot or WordPress about Berestechko’s found biodiversity, with additional interesting information about conservation, events planned that are going to happen in the future (Sforzi et al., 2018). Additional resource of information dissemination can be done through social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The aim is to inspire student participants to create their own BioBlitz projects within various jurisdictions of life, thereby contributing positively into the basketry of conservation. Citizen Science will equally contribute towards the implementation University programmes with a great support from citizens. To advertise the project and encourage a wider level of participation the event will be televised and shown on local and Ukraine wide TV.

At the end of the year a proposal will be written to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine requiring the implementation of Citizen Science into Universities programs. Based on a successful BioBlitz project it would urge the Ministry to ensure that Ecology and Environment protection becomes a subject on the school curriculum.

Resources

Justification of Resources

The highest cost is the coordinator’s salary and the expenses involved in travelling to Ukraine. The requirement for a coordinator from another country is due to the fact that Citizen Science is unknown in the Ukraine and it is necessary to involve an expert in the field, who can perform at a high level and has already had experience of running a BioBlitz project.

Hiring people to run the event will be kept low to minimize the cost as local people tend to generously support local events. To achieve an understanding of the biological audit some additional information will be provided. At the same time younger children who take part in species discovery will be awarded prizes for finding the rarest or endangered species or in a treasure hunting contest.

Some volunteers speak good English and they will help the coordinator to travel around. However, professional Ukrainian-English interpreter will be hired for precise translation such as reports and proposals. It would be advisable to purchase a river dipping kit in the UK as it is uncertain if it is available on Ukrainian market. From scientific point of view, microscopes, GPS, compasses and river dipping kit can enhance students’ ecological knowledge and practical skills in operating and applying equipment.

Gantt chart of project schedule

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References

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