IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i21p14203-d958831.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Aqua: Leveraging Citizen Science to Enhance Whale-Watching Activities and Promote Marine-Biodiversity Awareness

Author

Listed:
  • Mara Dionisio

    (Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Madeira, Penteada University Campus, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
    Interactive Technologies Institute/Associate Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (ITI/LARSyS) Polo Científico e Tecnológico da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal)

  • Mafalda Mendes

    (Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Marc Fernandez

    (MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
    cE3c/Azorean Biodiversity Group, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal)

  • Valentina Nisi

    (Interactive Technologies Institute/Associate Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (ITI/LARSyS) Polo Científico e Tecnológico da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
    Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Nuno Nunes

    (Interactive Technologies Institute/Associate Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (ITI/LARSyS) Polo Científico e Tecnológico da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
    Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

Life-supporting ecosystems are facing impending destruction. The human–computer interaction (HCI) community must rethink how to design technological interventions that reconcile concepts and theories for ecological computing. Proponents of sustainable HCI have pushed for tools and systems that aim to decenter the human in a shift toward posthuman design—a theoretical approach that challenges the assumption that only humans are stakeholders of technology as it increasingly shapes the future. Building on the iconic value of whales and the economic impact of whale watching as a form of ecotourism, we developed Aqua, a digital tool that leverages the potential of citizen science to engage tourists in marine-biodiversity awareness and conservation. This manuscript is advancing the field of sustainable HCI and tourism applications in two ways: first, we deliver an artifact contribution by designing and implementing a digital tool to enhance whale-watching activities. Second, we offer an empirical research contribution through observation and data gathering while comparing participants’ experiences of a whale-watching trip with and without the digital tool. Finally, preliminary insights are provided to inform the design of future digital tools aimed at promoting environmental conservation and citizen-science approaches among tourists. This work presents progression in understanding and informs the design of digital tools to engage tourists in novel and sustainable experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Mara Dionisio & Mafalda Mendes & Marc Fernandez & Valentina Nisi & Nuno Nunes, 2022. "Aqua: Leveraging Citizen Science to Enhance Whale-Watching Activities and Promote Marine-Biodiversity Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14203-:d:958831
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14203/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14203/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Denis Couvet & Frédéric Jiguet & Romain Julliard & Harold Levrel & A. Teyssèdre, 2008. "Enhancing citizen contributions to biodiversity science and public policy," Post-Print hal-00362940, HAL.
    2. Filby, Nicole E. & Stockin, Karen A. & Scarpaci, Carol, 2015. "Social science as a vehicle to improve dolphin-swim tour operation compliance?," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 40-47.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Torres Matovelle, Pablo & Molina Molina, Gina, 2019. "Evaluation of crowding and tourist satisfaction in the practice of humpback whale - watching, the case of Puerto López - Ecuador," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    2. Jessica Patroni Author-Email: Jessica.Patroni@Murodch.edu.au Author-Workplace-Name: Harry Butler Institute Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Murdoch, Western Australia & David Newsome & David, 2019. "Reflecting on the human dimensions of wild dolphin tourism in marine environments," Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, vol. 25(1), pages 141-160, May.
    3. Sheina Koffler & Celso Barbiéri & Natalia P. Ghilardi-Lopes & Jailson N. Leocadio & Bruno Albertini & Tiago M. Francoy & Antonio M. Saraiva, 2021. "A Buzz for Sustainability and Conservation: The Growing Potential of Citizen Science Studies on Bees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    4. McKinley, Duncan C. & Briggs, Russell D. & Bartuska, Ann M., 2012. "When peer-reviewed publications are not enough! Delivering science for natural resource management," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 1-11.
    5. Maria Peter & Tim Diekötter & Kerstin Kremer, 2019. "Participant Outcomes of Biodiversity Citizen Science Projects: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Khaldoon A. Mourad & Seyyed Hasan Hosseini & Helen Avery, 2020. "The Role of Citizen Science in Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Levrel, Harold & Fontaine, Benoît & Henry, Pierre-Yves & Jiguet, Frédéric & Julliard, Romain & Kerbiriou, Christian & Couvet, Denis, 2010. "Balancing state and volunteer investment in biodiversity monitoring for the implementation of CBD indicators: A French example," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 1580-1586, May.
    8. McKinley, Duncan C. & Briggs, Russell D. & Bartuska, Ann M., 2013. "Reprint of: When peer-reviewed publications are not enough! Delivering science for natural resource management," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 9-19.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14203-:d:958831. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.