As part of the module Fundamentals of Environmental Science the first year students took part in a number of citizen science projects. The students took part in surveys of biodiversity, water quality, climate and air quality in areas around Avenue Campus.
The air quality survey saw students identifying trees and the lichens found upon them. In the water quality survey the pond in Avenue Nature Reserve was sampled and the life found in the water identified. For the climate survey a quick look at the clouds in the sky and measuring the speed at which bubbles travelled over a known distance allowed the wind speed and direction to be estimated. The biodiversity survey involved the study of a section of hedge and a count of the invertebrates found within the hedge.
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| Identifying the aquatic invertebrates |
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| Carrying out the pond survey |
The data were collated to produce a large dataset. The students then all had to write up one of these investigations as a scientific report, while considering the usefulness of citizen science.
