Creando con ciencia
About this good practice
The project was born in 2018 through a group of young people with multidisciplinary profiles (marine biology, environmental education or social eld), as a result of activities of coastal action and cleaning together with the NGO AVANFUER. In addition to the waste cleaning activities, we felt the need to collect information on plastic pollution on the
island's beaches. Therefore, we started a systematic monitoring of marine litter, focusing on the microplastics present on the coast of Fuerteventura, and selecting 6 sandy beaches with different characteristics: urban, non-urban environments, or with a higher degree of exposure to currents. predominant. The activities were open to the public through calls for the participation of citizens, volunteers, groups, etc. transforming the project into a tool for citizen science and environmental education around plastic. Through participation tools, both face-to-face and digital (@creando_con_ciencia) we disseminate good practices for reducing plastic in homes.
Resources needed
The work that the project is currently developing is born thanks to the voluntary involvement of the coordinators and participants in the activities. These milestones have been recognized thanks to the regional contest of youth initiatives of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Evidence of success
To date, more than 50 scientific sampling activities have been carried out on the beaches of Fuerteventura with the participation of more than 500 volunteers. We have previously diagnosed the abundance and characterization of the plastic present in various beaches of Fuerteventura. We have recently joined the ZERO PLASTIC working group of the Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve, making this project a valuable tool for environmental awareness and education.
Potential for learning or transfer
A citizen science tool is a good way to generate public awareness, parallel to the development of a scientific project. It can be extrapolated to projects with other characteristics.
Contemplating citizen participation in projects is a necessary way to transfer the results and knowledge of the research carried out, in this way science cannot be shown as a hermetic element, but rather generates a positive change in society.
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.