Learning and the transformative potential of citizen science

The number of collaborative initiatives between scientists and volunteers (i.e., citizen science) is increasing across many research fields. The promise of societal transformation together with scientific breakthroughs contributes to the current popularity of citizen science (CS) in the policy domain. We examined the transformative capacity of citizen science in particular learning through environmental CS as conservation tool. We reviewed the CS and social‐learning literature and examined 14 conservation projects across Europe that involved collaborative CS. We also developed a template that can be used to explore learning arrangements (i.e., learning events and materials) in CS projects and to explain how the desired outcomes can be achieved through CS learning. We found that recent studies aiming to define CS for analytical purposes often fail to improve the conceptual clarity of CS; CS programs may have transformative potential, especially for the development of individual skills, but such transformation is not necessarily occurring at the organizational and institutional levels; empirical evidence on simple learning outcomes, but the assertion of transformative effects of CS learning is often based on assumptions rather than empirical observation; and it is unanimous that learning in CS is considered important, but in practice it often goes unreported or unevaluated. In conclusion, we point to the need for reliable and transparent measurement of transformative effects for democratization of knowledge production.     

Monitoring Liverworts to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Hydroriparian Buffers

In the coastal temperate rainforest of British Columbia (BC) in western Canada, government policies stipulate that foresters leave unlogged hydroriparian buffer strips up to 25 m on each side of streams to protect wildlife habitat. At present, studies on the effectiveness of these buffers focus on mammals, birds, and amphibians while there is comparably little information on smaller organisms such as liverworts in these hydroriparian buffers. To address this gap of knowledge, we conducted field surveys of liverworts comparing the percent cover and community composition in hydroriparian forested areas (n = 4 sites, n = 32 plots with nested design) to hydroriparian buffer zones (n = 4 sites, n = 32 plots). We also examined how substrate type affected the cover of liverworts. Liverwort communities in buffers were similar to those in riparian forest areas and most liverworts were found on downed wood. Thus, hydroriparian buffers of 25–35 m on each side in a coastal temperate rainforest effectively provide habitat for liverworts as long as downed wood is left intact in the landscape. Because liverworts are particularly sensitive to changes in humidity, these results may indicate that hydroriparian buffers are an effective management strategy for bryophytes and possibly for a range of other riparian species that are particularly sensitive to forestry-related changes in microclimate.     

Inspecting the influence of renewable energy and R&D in defending environmental quality: evidence for California

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is international cooperation that aims to climate change mitigation, and encourage the...     

Prenatal diagnosis of respiratory chain deficiency by direct mutation screening

Respiratory chain deficiency (RCD) is responsible for a clinically heterogeneous group of early-onset untreatable disorders. Enzymological prenatal diagnosis (PD) can only be offered to a fraction of families. Moreover, due to the two-fold genetic origin of the respiratory chain (nuclear and mitochondrial DNA) and owing to the large number of nuclear genes involved in the respiratory chain assembly, maintenance and functioning, the identification of the disease causing gene in a given family remains challenging. Here, we report on PD of RCD by direct screening of NDUFV1, SDH-Fp, SCO1 and SURF1 mutations in five unrelated families with complex I, II and IV deficiency, respectively. The identification of the disease-causing gene in a given family with RCD is a major issue to provide both adequate genetic counselling and early, reliable PD. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dye removal by activated carbon produced from Agave americana fibers: stochastic isotherm and fractal kinetic studies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present work investigates the use of Agave americana fibers (AGF) as a precursor for activated carbon (AC) preparation via chemical activation...