Community Engagement
Community Engagement
DCU Water Institute is deeply committed to meaningful engagement with communities across Ireland and further afield. Our Citizen Science projects have demonstrated the power of this dynamic and inclusive approach to research, which spans diverse disciplines. By encouraging participation from the community and listening to their perspectives such projects deliver valuable data and insights.
The DCU Water Institute collaborates with EarthWatch on projects aimed at involving the community in monitoring and safeguarding our freshwater bodies, such as canals, lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds.
Through participation in these initiatives, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of water-related issues in their communities and apply their knowledge globally. By contributing to data collection efforts, participants not only support essential research but gain knowledge on relevant water issues.
Community Projects
The BACKDROP project engages local people as citizen scientists to measure water quality along different locations on the River Liffey every month. The measurements are simple to carry out and data collected by the public can be uploaded using a mobile device. The data that these citizen scientists produce can be used to address specific local water challenges adding to research on global water issues.
Centennial Citizen Science project continues its success in Mountrath, Co. Laois
DCU hosts The WaterBlitz, a co-created research project between DCU Water Institute and Citizen Scientists in Ireland in partnership with Earthwatch Europe. The project encourages citizens across Ireland to collect samples from a variety of water bodies across the country to assist in capturing a snapshot of the environment.
In 2022, over 700 Irish citizens from 108 community groups collected almost 700 samples across 26 counties. The samples collected were analysed by scientists, allowing for instrumental contributions in constructing a comprehensive understanding of the state of Ireland's water bodies, especially those that have previously gone unmonitored. Through citizen’s invaluable efforts, data was essential for informing strategies to safeguard this vital resource for future generations.