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Take a look at WyeViz (Wye Alliance Citizen Science dashboard)
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/mcarpenter/viz/WyeVizWyeAllianceCitizenSciencedashboard/START
I’m pleased to announce that the bid for funds has been a success. Watch this space for more details and next steps
This is from a contact in Welsh Waters as a response to a specific enquiry about using their community funding for citizen science…
Hi.
My comment about unsuccessful applications was in reference to a different biodiversity programme I suggested for CLEAN.In terms of Community/Cit Sci Fund – I’m not aware of any application for sampling equipment to either fund be successful. That’s not saying it wouldn’t be, but I’m just not aware of any. It’s historically not been something we support (for multiple reasons) and equally I believe NRW have been of a similar stance.
As you may have read, the Citizen Science programme requires support from an eNGO, Uni, consultancy etc, so it may be an idea to discuss the use/benefit/limitations of sampling equipment with them.
I hope that helps.
There is now a template for a letter/email to send to the Senedd – see https://www.teifi.one/actions#Action-3-Write-to-WG-Senedd
Check out the video here…
https://www.teifi.one/resources/news/special-events/
At 5:47 Gwenda talks about the Pisho project
Join the conversation about reclaiming human urine as a sustainable fertilizer!
Nov. 7-9, 2023
The Rich Earth Institute’s annual Summit is a global gathering for advancing the field of urine nutrient reclamation. The Summit brings together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, industry leaders, students, and enthusiasts, catalyzing new collaborations and partnerships as we continue to grow the body of knowledge about this innovative practice.
This 3-day event will feature presentations on the technology, regulation, design, culture, and art of urine reclamation as well as opportunities for networking and collaboration. Recordings will be available after the event.
https://www.richearthsummit.org/This group has created a leaflet to distribute…
See a PDF version here… https://www.teifi.one/onewebmedia/Leaflet2.pdf
The Project for Innovative Sustainable Human Waste Optimization
has a logo:
and a leaflet, which you can see on this link:
https://www.teifi.one/onewebmedia/Pisho%20Leaflet%20print.pdf
Good news – we are through to the next stage: which is the full application for the Esmee funding!
We have 3 months to get a full application in – then it will be assessed. Assessment can take up to 3 months.
Esmee raised the following questions. Any thoughts on these would be greatly appreciated. (The second question is technically more for WWRT as the lead for this project, but any thoughts would be appreciated):
- We are also interested in hearing more about your approach to co-creating a “people plan” for the Teifi, including with the diverse communities in a place, particularly those who experience discrimination or face barriers to accessing nature.
- We would also like to know how you will approach safeguarding, including how you will clarify responsibilities of your partners, given that community engagement will be done by them.
WWRT conversation with Esmee went well, they said they could see the value in both elements of the project and the driving issues behind their need.
A few things that came up which they said should be included/emphasised for the full application if we get to the next stage:
- Emphasise the strength of partner skills/experience in engaging with disadvantaged communities
- Explain how the above will be achieved – (e.g. offering to cover attendees transport costs, providing food and children’s activities to make attendance a benefit to families). But also can draw on the partnership strengths to enhance as this and this was a key reason for a joint bid.
- Describe how the citizen science surveys will lead to future funding
- Describe how community voices and the Peoples Plan for the Teifi are going to feed into citizen science and the other way round.
- Ensure that there are a diverse range of community voices in the Peoples Plan for the Teifi catchment.
The aim is for people to walk from Llechryd Cricket Club to Poppit along riverside paths and roads, across footpaths and through the Wildlife Centre, supported by marshals with water stops and snacks along the way – gathering at 10.30 and setting off at 11. No one will be expected to walk the whole way, although many people might, and we will have a gathering of some sort at the start at Llechryd, and also at the end on Poppit…more info soon! We have set up a linked crowd funder page for Save the Teifi so people can support that if they want to (see below).
The Crowd Funder Donation page is now live…. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-teifi-1
I have some good news to pass on regarding Save the Teifi and the Expression of interest for Esmee funding of the Collaborative… We heard this week that we have been invited by Esmee to have a conversation about taking this project to the next stage. This is largely about checking the suitability of West Wales Rivers Trust to manage the project – so will be in WWRT hands. Fingers crossed.
A note that the Esmee funding is development funding only, so they are unlikely to fund an extensive programme of chemical monitoring. WWRT position with chemical analysis citizen science is that there is a wealth of data that either currently exists (in WFD & SAGIS) or is planned (full CSO monitoring) and is trusted by NRW/DCWW, and they are reluctant to spend funds on monitoring that isn’t supported by these organisations – both because these funds could potentially be better spent on addressing the issues and also because they do not want to waste community time, efforts and interest in data that is not going to be used (as they have previous experience of).
WWRT current preference is for visual monitoring of outfalls (such as under the Outfall Safari model) – both sewerage and other surface water drains. Not only are photos and videos more effective in highlighting the issue from a community level, but it also provides them with important data on when outfalls are releasing when they shouldn’t be, which can be compare to DCWW records. There is some value in chemical water quality monitoring with citizen science – but they think this is limited to when funding is available for a specific failing river catchment, to help to prioritise where interventions are most needed (i.e. agricultural pollution or urban point source inputs).
There is clearly a national interest for citizen science and a great community for this with Save the Teifi. WWRT aim is to bid for a project along the lines of developing a model for effective citizen science that targets efforts for the greatest benefits, including take-up by government bodies and water companies.
