Concept study on the applicability of Citizen Science in the departmental research of the Federal Environment Agency

Zeitraum August 2015 – May 2016

Auftraggeber BMUB, UBA

Kooperationspartner technopolis |group|, nexus Institut für Kooperationsmanagement und interdisziplinäre Forschung, Museum of Natural History Berlin

The concept study aims to examine the extent to which Citizen Science is applicable in Federal Environment Agency’s (UBA) departmental research with a view to concrete examples. It will analyze the purposes and forms of Citizen Science that can be usefully applied, where appropriate, in UBA’s departmental research and in environmental policy as a whole.

In addition, positive effects for citizens and the social added value of Citizen Science projects of the UBA are determined. It discusses how Citizen Science can strengthen the legitimacy, practicality, and acceptance of departmental research. The results are brought together in a concept that provides an introduction to the topic of citizen science, elaborates the conditions for success for its use in departmental research, and identifies possible fields of application.

Final report at UBA and BMUB

Weitere Projekte

November 2020 – December 2026

Evaluation of the “Society of Ideas – Competition for Social Innovation” funding measure

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March 2024 – June 2027

The importance of civic engagement in strengthening local communities for sustainable urban development: a real-world laboratory in Dessau-Roßlau

Civic engagement is becoming increasingly important for sustainable urban development geared towards the common good. With their interest in liveable, everyday urban spaces, active citizens are driving forward sustainable, cooperative forms of building, living, consuming and working. In doing so, they contribute (at least implicitly) to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, environmentally friendly production processes and the protection of biodiversity. Although civic engagement is recognized as having great potential, it often remains disconnected from administrative processes: Both sides do not come together sufficiently in municipal governance, which reduces the impact of engagement.

December 2022 – May 2025

Integrated sustainability assessment of alternative protein sources and analogs and transformation pathways of two selected alternatives.

Against the background of a growing global demand for proteins and at the same time significant negative impacts of the production of animal products, the focus of the project is on the exploration of alternative protein sources and analogues. The aim is to obtain an overview of current processes, raw materials and products for the provision of alternative proteins and analogues and to investigate, on the basis of a selection, how likely and desirable the diffusion of these alternatives is.