Nature from a Citizen Science perspective | Andrea Sforzi | TEDxManciano

I’d like to speak about the relationship

I’d like to speak about the relationship between man and environment humankind

between man and environment humankind

between man and environment humankind and the natural environment we

and the natural environment we

and the natural environment we originated less than 200,000 years ago

originated less than 200,000 years ago

originated less than 200,000 years ago in West Eastern Africa and then about

in West Eastern Africa and then about

in West Eastern Africa and then about eighty-five thousand years ago we

eighty-five thousand years ago we

eighty-five thousand years ago we started moving toward the rest of the

started moving toward the rest of the

started moving toward the rest of the world in four different waves of

world in four different waves of

world in four different waves of expansions first in Africa and then the

expansions first in Africa and then the

expansions first in Africa and then the other continents our ancestors

other continents our ancestors

other continents our ancestors experienced since the beginning a very

experienced since the beginning a very

experienced since the beginning a very deep relationship with nature because

deep relationship with nature because

deep relationship with nature because like any other animal we have to cope

like any other animal we have to cope

like any other animal we have to cope with the environment with our

with the environment with our

with the environment with our competitors praise predators and so on

competitors praise predators and so on

competitors praise predators and so on so our relationship was very true and

so our relationship was very true and

so our relationship was very true and deep and since then this relationship is

deep and since then this relationship is

deep and since then this relationship is is part of us of our nature so many

is part of us of our nature so many

is part of us of our nature so many poets in modern times even in ancient

poets in modern times even in ancient

poets in modern times even in ancient times artists designers even scientists

times artists designers even scientists

times artists designers even scientists were inspired by nature and it’s part of

were inspired by nature and it’s part of

were inspired by nature and it’s part of our way of living quite recently has

our way of living quite recently has

our way of living quite recently has been studied the effect of quite

been studied the effect of quite

been studied the effect of quite recently has been studied the effect of

recently has been studied the effect of

recently has been studied the effect of nature in in our brain in our behavior

nature in in our brain in our behavior

nature in in our brain in our behavior so we know that stain in nature is for

so we know that stain in nature is for

so we know that stain in nature is for us something that make us healthier

us something that make us healthier

us something that make us healthier richer and even more creative and has

richer and even more creative and has

richer and even more creative and has positive effect on on the brain but

positive effect on on the brain but

positive effect on on the brain but starting from some years ago human

starting from some years ago human

starting from some years ago human population moved to cities and so we

population moved to cities and so we

population moved to cities and so we have we lived more and more indoor and

have we lived more and more indoor and

have we lived more and more indoor and so the 2007 was the turning point where

so the 2007 was the turning point where

so the 2007 was the turning point where roughly fifty percent of human

roughly fifty percent of human

roughly fifty percent of human population starting to live in cities

population starting to live in cities

population starting to live in cities instead of in in the countryside and

instead of in in the countryside and

instead of in in the countryside and there are some figures that say that in

there are some figures that say that in

there are some figures that say that in about nineteen fifty about 30

about nineteen fifty about 30

about nineteen fifty about 30 enter people lived in the county side

enter people lived in the county side

enter people lived in the county side but by 2050 maybe roughly seventy

but by 2050 maybe roughly seventy

but by 2050 maybe roughly seventy percent of people will live in cities so

percent of people will live in cities so

percent of people will live in cities so the first effect is we have no more

the first effect is we have no more

the first effect is we have no more direct contact with nature we are part

direct contact with nature we are part

direct contact with nature we are part of it we depend on it we still depend on

of it we depend on it we still depend on

of it we depend on it we still depend on measure like our ancestor depended on

measure like our ancestor depended on

measure like our ancestor depended on nature but the content is no more

nature but the content is no more

nature but the content is no more functioning we are just put apart so

functioning we are just put apart so

functioning we are just put apart so what is our relationship with nature

what is our relationship with nature

what is our relationship with nature nowadays how are we connected and

nowadays how are we connected and

nowadays how are we connected and looking for some inspiration for this

looking for some inspiration for this

looking for some inspiration for this talk I browse the internet and found a

talk I browse the internet and found a

talk I browse the internet and found a new concept for me which is neisha

new concept for me which is neisha

new concept for me which is neisha connectedness is the extent to which we

connectedness is the extent to which we

connectedness is the extent to which we feel part of nature and can change by

feel part of nature and can change by

feel part of nature and can change by our experience it can change for one

our experience it can change for one

our experience it can change for one person to another it’s like a character

person to another it’s like a character

person to another it’s like a character and some studies has been done in this

and some studies has been done in this

and some studies has been done in this sense and the three main components of

sense and the three main components of

sense and the three main components of nature connect pneus are the three here

nature connect pneus are the three here

nature connect pneus are the three here which is a cognitive component how I I

which is a cognitive component how I I

which is a cognitive component how I I feel part of nature it’s a component of

feel part of nature it’s a component of

feel part of nature it’s a component of affective component individual sense of

affective component individual sense of

affective component individual sense of care for nature and a behavioral

care for nature and a behavioral

care for nature and a behavioral component I am committed to do something

component I am committed to do something

component I am committed to do something to preserve nature all these three made

to preserve nature all these three made

to preserve nature all these three made this concert I started my career as our

this concert I started my career as our

this concert I started my career as our life biologist as I still am working on

life biologist as I still am working on

life biologist as I still am working on the field on wild mammals and wild birds

the field on wild mammals and wild birds

the field on wild mammals and wild birds and at a certain point I felt that

and at a certain point I felt that

and at a certain point I felt that something was missing because everything

something was missing because everything

something was missing because everything we were looking for every research were

we were looking for every research were

we were looking for every research were as not sense if the people were not

as not sense if the people were not

as not sense if the people were not connected if we want we don’t have

connected if we want we don’t have

connected if we want we don’t have people part of our joke part of the play

people part of our joke part of the play

people part of our joke part of the play because we need to have a more

because we need to have a more

because we need to have a more engagement of society in what we want to

engagement of society in what we want to

engagement of society in what we want to do to preserve the environment we have

do to preserve the environment we have

do to preserve the environment we have not no more time we have to run so i

not no more time we have to run so i

not no more time we have to run so i came across citizen science citizen

came across citizen science citizen

came across citizen science citizen science it’s just the involved

science it’s just the involved

science it’s just the involved mental people in the scientific

mental people in the scientific

mental people in the scientific questions in the scientific research in

questions in the scientific research in

questions in the scientific research in many different fields is just made up of

many different fields is just made up of

many different fields is just made up of involvement participation and feedback

involvement participation and feedback

involvement participation and feedback it can give results at different levels

it can give results at different levels

it can give results at different levels so the citizen science can be the

so the citizen science can be the

so the citizen science can be the response and I started working on

response and I started working on

response and I started working on citizen science with several colleagues

citizen science with several colleagues

citizen science with several colleagues from Europe mainly and I discover that

from Europe mainly and I discover that

from Europe mainly and I discover that citizen science can have different

citizen science can have different

citizen science can have different levels of participation you can just

levels of participation you can just

levels of participation you can just participate collecting information given

participate collecting information given

participate collecting information given to a researcher which is the contribute

to a researcher which is the contribute

to a researcher which is the contribute of citizen science or you can play

of citizen science or you can play

of citizen science or you can play different rules till the extreme citizen

different rules till the extreme citizen

different rules till the extreme citizen science which is taking part on all the

science which is taking part on all the

science which is taking part on all the stages of research from the first

stages of research from the first

stages of research from the first hypothesis to the publication of the

hypothesis to the publication of the

hypothesis to the publication of the results and so we know that citizen

results and so we know that citizen

results and so we know that citizen science can be applied to many different

science can be applied to many different

science can be applied to many different fields like medicine biology but

fields like medicine biology but

fields like medicine biology but astronomy the study of any field of

astronomy the study of any field of

astronomy the study of any field of modern research and can be applied in

modern research and can be applied in

modern research and can be applied in many different ways there are several

many different ways there are several

many different ways there are several examples and it’s a very quickly growing

examples and it’s a very quickly growing

examples and it’s a very quickly growing field this is an example form the USA

field this is an example form the USA

field this is an example form the USA where hundreds thousands of people are

where hundreds thousands of people are

where hundreds thousands of people are collaborating collecting information on

collaborating collecting information on

collaborating collecting information on the migration of birds and so it’s

the migration of birds and so it’s

the migration of birds and so it’s impossible to have the same result with

impossible to have the same result with

impossible to have the same result with just few researchers work in the field

just few researchers work in the field

just few researchers work in the field it’s possible if you engage all the

it’s possible if you engage all the

it’s possible if you engage all the people that can help you I want to help

people that can help you I want to help

people that can help you I want to help you and and learn about this experience

you and and learn about this experience

you and and learn about this experience so these are carried out by the corner

so these are carried out by the corner

so these are carried out by the corner lab of ornithology in ithaca new york

lab of ornithology in ithaca new york

lab of ornithology in ithaca new york but there is also many european examples

but there is also many european examples

but there is also many european examples opal is that may be the biggest one in

opal is that may be the biggest one in

opal is that may be the biggest one in europe it’s led by the Imperial College

europe it’s led by the Imperial College

europe it’s led by the Imperial College in London and it’s just made up of many

in London and it’s just made up of many

in London and it’s just made up of many different surveys involving people in

different surveys involving people in

different surveys involving people in the collection of information about data

the collection of information about data

the collection of information about data quality of water quality soil box count

quality of water quality soil box count

quality of water quality soil box count three health many different fields and

three health many different fields and

three health many different fields and people can can play a big role another

people can can play a big role another

people can can play a big role another one just forgive you

one just forgive you

one just forgive you sample is the mosquito left which is a

sample is the mosquito left which is a

sample is the mosquito left which is a way to help researchers to spot the new

way to help researchers to spot the new

way to help researchers to spot the new species of mosquitoes and you know that

species of mosquitoes and you know that

species of mosquitoes and you know that there are some mosquitoes they are

there are some mosquitoes they are

there are some mosquitoes they are coming from other countries and some of

coming from other countries and some of

coming from other countries and some of them are bringing diseases so it’s very

them are bringing diseases so it’s very

them are bringing diseases so it’s very important to spot them on time and there

important to spot them on time and there

important to spot them on time and there are many several other experiences made

are many several other experiences made

are many several other experiences made and the process behind a citizen science

and the process behind a citizen science

and the process behind a citizen science project it’s the same of that of a

project it’s the same of that of a

project it’s the same of that of a science project so it’s like identifying

science project so it’s like identifying

science project so it’s like identifying what you would like to to study find out

what you would like to to study find out

what you would like to to study find out the the best solution to do it the best

the the best solution to do it the best

the the best solution to do it the best experts and find the the tools for do it

experts and find the the tools for do it

experts and find the the tools for do it collect an information evaluating them

collect an information evaluating them

collect an information evaluating them and then at the end publishing the

and then at the end publishing the

and then at the end publishing the results so it exactly the same of real

results so it exactly the same of real

results so it exactly the same of real science it’s real science and so we

science it’s real science and so we

science it’s real science and so we started to do that at our natural

started to do that at our natural

started to do that at our natural history museum which is based on in

history museum which is based on in

history museum which is based on in grosseto south and most part of Tuscany

grosseto south and most part of Tuscany

grosseto south and most part of Tuscany and it’s a small original Museum and we

and it’s a small original Museum and we

and it’s a small original Museum and we wanted to to put people in contact with

wanted to to put people in contact with

wanted to to put people in contact with nature and so bring the museum outside

nature and so bring the museum outside

nature and so bring the museum outside and let the people doing the both the

and let the people doing the both the

and let the people doing the both the experience within the museum and

experience within the museum and

experience within the museum and collecting information outside it was

collecting information outside it was

collecting information outside it was nowadays is is the our mainstream many

nowadays is is the our mainstream many

nowadays is is the our mainstream many activities was shaped for this purpose

activities was shaped for this purpose

activities was shaped for this purpose so we started doing bio places which are

so we started doing bio places which are

so we started doing bio places which are experiences of 24 hours on the field

experiences of 24 hours on the field

experiences of 24 hours on the field even during night involving researchers

even during night involving researchers

even during night involving researchers and regular public in collecting

and regular public in collecting

and regular public in collecting information on the biodiversity of a

information on the biodiversity of a

information on the biodiversity of a certain place or courses for citizen

certain place or courses for citizen

certain place or courses for citizen scientists and and so on so we provide

scientists and and so on so we provide

scientists and and so on so we provide many different tools to people and the

many different tools to people and the

many different tools to people and the response was quite interesting and these

response was quite interesting and these

response was quite interesting and these are some results some reports for the

are some results some reports for the

are some results some reports for the information we collected some lift

information we collected some lift

information we collected some lift sheets that that we give to the people

sheets that that we give to the people

sheets that that we give to the people to go in the field to collect

to go in the field to collect

to go in the field to collect information and we also had some

information and we also had some

information and we also had some scientific papers published in

scientific papers published in

scientific papers published in international journals on in this case

international journals on in this case

international journals on in this case that is

that is

that is tribution at the national level of the

tribution at the national level of the

tribution at the national level of the crested porcupine for example and we had

crested porcupine for example and we had

crested porcupine for example and we had also the fortune to be part of the small

also the fortune to be part of the small

also the fortune to be part of the small group of people that starting

group of people that starting

group of people that starting establishing the European citizen

establishing the European citizen

establishing the European citizen science association some years ago that

science association some years ago that

science association some years ago that was established in 2014 and then now the

was established in 2014 and then now the

was established in 2014 and then now the European citizen science association is

European citizen science association is

European citizen science association is quite a white one with members from

quite a white one with members from

quite a white one with members from different parts of the globe and we are

different parts of the globe and we are

different parts of the globe and we are actively working and almost in the same

actively working and almost in the same

actively working and almost in the same period even in the USA and Australia a

period even in the USA and Australia a

period even in the USA and Australia a tattoo large associations born and so

tattoo large associations born and so

tattoo large associations born and so now we are three Association working

now we are three Association working

now we are three Association working together at a global scale to exchange

together at a global scale to exchange

together at a global scale to exchange information to exchange good practices

information to exchange good practices

information to exchange good practices and to put forward this new field which

and to put forward this new field which

and to put forward this new field which is citizen science and so at the end we

is citizen science and so at the end we

is citizen science and so at the end we can say that at least for environmental

can say that at least for environmental

can say that at least for environmental citizen science we can give another help

citizen science we can give another help

citizen science we can give another help pushing our nature to be more involved

pushing our nature to be more involved

pushing our nature to be more involved and involving people engaging people in

and involving people engaging people in

and involving people engaging people in the field trying to partially recuperate

the field trying to partially recuperate

the field trying to partially recuperate that the the lack of your knowledge that

that the the lack of your knowledge that

that the the lack of your knowledge that we we saw at the beginning so coming

we we saw at the beginning so coming

we we saw at the beginning so coming back to the first skin here we could say

back to the first skin here we could say

back to the first skin here we could say that maybe the natural connectedness

that maybe the natural connectedness

that maybe the natural connectedness could be also completed by another

could be also completed by another

could be also completed by another concert we could be knowledge through

concert we could be knowledge through

concert we could be knowledge through citizen science so if we all are engaged

citizen science so if we all are engaged

citizen science so if we all are engaged if we all are part of same process we

if we all are part of same process we

if we all are part of same process we can feel that that biodiversity is also

can feel that that biodiversity is also

can feel that that biodiversity is also mine or yours and we can play a role in

mine or yours and we can play a role in

mine or yours and we can play a role in that so this is quite relevant important

that so this is quite relevant important

that so this is quite relevant important and so that’s why we have to say that

and so that’s why we have to say that

and so that’s why we have to say that citizen science can be made up of

citizen science can be made up of

citizen science can be made up of different solutions and can be applied

different solutions and can be applied

different solutions and can be applied to different fields so the limit it just

to different fields so the limit it just

to different fields so the limit it just being creative so the final we could say

being creative so the final we could say

being creative so the final we could say sky is the limit

sky is the limit

sky is the limit thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]