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Citizen Science and the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Social and Technical Capacity through Data Collection in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Genevieve Rigler

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Zoi Dokou

    (Department of Civil Engineering, California State University, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA)

  • Fahad Khan Khadim

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Berhanu G. Sinshaw

    (Department of Hydraulic and Water Resource Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
    Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia)

  • Daniel G. Eshete

    (Department of Hydraulic and Water Resource Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia)

  • Muludel Aseres

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia)

  • Wendale Amera

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia)

  • Wangchi Zhou

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Xingyu Wang

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Mamaru Moges

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia)

  • Muluken Azage

    (School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 79, Ethiopia)

  • Baikun Li

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Elizabeth Holzer

    (Department of Sociology, Human Rights Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Seifu Tilahun

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia
    Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • Amvrossios Bagtzoglou

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

  • Emmanouil Anagnostou

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA)

Abstract

Engaging youth and women in data-scarce, least developed countries (LDCs) is gaining attention in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) arena, as is using citizen science as a multi-faceted mechanism for data collection, engendering personal empowerment and agency. Involving these populations in citizen science is a powerful synergy that simultaneously addresses the Leave-No-One-Behind promise in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, yet most citizen science takes place in the Global North, and attention to LDCs is needed. This article highlights a four-year, four-location, hydrology-focused, interdisciplinary citizen science initiative (CSI) in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Through a systematic evaluation, we explore scientific applications of the hydrologic data, as well as the social dimensions in the CSI, towards building a social and technical capacity that supports the SDGs at the local and international scale. In the CSI, Ethiopian high school students received training from local university faculty and graduate students, collecting river stage and groundwater level measurements, and farmers conducted soil resistivity measurements using a novel sensor technology developed for the study area. We found the datasets to be ample for use to locally validate regional groundwater models and seasonal forecasts on soil moisture and streamflow. We conducted written interviews with the students, which revealed their ability to perceive benefits of engagement in the CSI, as well as recognize their increased individual technical capacity. An analysis of the hydrological data demonstrates the readiness of the datasets to be used for evaluating water-related interventions that facilitate the SDGs, broadly, by building synergies between individuals and institutions. As such, we map how both the hydrologic data and experiences of the citizen scientists support the SDGs at the Goal and Target-level, while forging new social and technical pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Genevieve Rigler & Zoi Dokou & Fahad Khan Khadim & Berhanu G. Sinshaw & Daniel G. Eshete & Muludel Aseres & Wendale Amera & Wangchi Zhou & Xingyu Wang & Mamaru Moges & Muluken Azage & Baikun Li & Eliz, 2022. "Citizen Science and the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Social and Technical Capacity through Data Collection in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3647-:d:775479
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fahad Khan Khadim & Zoi Dokou & Rehenuma Lazin & Amvrossios C. Bagtzoglou & Emmanouil Anagnostou, 2023. "Groundwater Modeling to Assess Climate Change Impacts and Sustainability in the Tana Basin, Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Frauke Brockhage & Mientje Lüsse & Jörg Klasmeier & Verena Pietzner & Marco Beeken, 2022. "Citizen Science as an Innovative Approach to Analyze Spatial and Temporal Influences on Nitrate Pollution of Water Bodies: Results of a Participatory Research Project in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.

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