The Project

CSMON-LIFE (Citizen Science MONitoring) is one of the first Italian projects which focuses on using a citizen science approach on biodiversity. I was funded by the European Commission under the LIFE+ programme. The project want to stimulate the participation of the citizens, involving them in the study, management and conservation of biodiversity, hence creating an active collaboration between citizens, scientific community and institutions.At the base of the project there are four pillars of citizen science:

• involving (citizens)
• understanding (of issues related to the conservation of biodiversity)
• cooperating (in the development of effective solutions)
• changing (our behavior towards the environment) 

During the project a set of tools for the collection of scientific data will be developed and made available to the citizens, which will be ble to use them on smartphones and tablets.The project targets individuals, schools and several categories (hikers, fishermen, farmers, boaters, divers, etc.). The study areas are the regions Lazio and Puglia

What citizen science is?

Citizen Science is the active participation of citizens in the collection of information and scientific data. Those who have some time to devote to science can choose to investigate the space, searching for new stars, to collect data on plants and animals, to monitor air and water quality, etc. Citizen science can be an important support to scientific research, which, thanks to citizen science data, can improve the level of knowledge of our planet, and provide important information to policy makers.

Citizen science is an attractive way to bring the general public, and particularly young people, to science, and facilitate the changes in behaviours which, will become more oriented to sustainability.Fundamental to this process is therefore a continuous feedback among world of research, policy makers and citizens.

Citizen science is having an increasing success worldwide. Science done by citizens is proving to be a valuable aid for scientific research and for the protection of the environment, as well as a powerful tool for educating the general public.