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Project

The potential of citizen science for reducing vector borne diseases and natural hazards in Uganda.

The research is part of two international collaborative projects (ATRAP and HARISSA) of the Royal Museum for Central Africa funded by DGD Belgium. Both projects employ participatory and interdisciplinary approaches involving multiple actors (scientists, local communities and other stakeholders); the Citizen Science approach in data collection. This approach is also key in the communication strategy of the findings and preventive measures to the wider community in order to reduce infection rates and disaster risks. The research, therefore, aims at developing a framework to evaluate the citizen science approaches used with respect to data quality, awareness creation, policy impact and observed behavioural changes among citizens. Also, performance indicators that can be used to assess (non-)success of the citizen science approaches as well as factors that determine its (non-)success will be identified. As such, this information will provide generic insights into the performance of citizen science approaches and how this performance can be improved. ATRAP: (Action Towards Reducing Aquatic snail-borne Parasitic diseases) to prevent snail-borne diseases (schistosomiasis) in Uganda and Congo, using a multi-disciplinary approach for snail monitoring: control and health education. HARISSA: (Natural Hazards, Risks And Society In Africa: Developing Knowledge And Capacities) to reduce Natural hazards like floods, erosion and landslides and associated impacts by collecting and mapping hazard data, provide academic training and improving awareness and risk preparedness.

Date:23 Jan 2020 →  11 Oct 2023
Keywords:Citizen science, ATRAP, HARISSA
Disciplines:Natural hazards, Parasitology, Voluntary associations, participation and civil society
Project type:PhD project