The European Space Agency’s Citizen Science Earth Observation Lab (CSEOL, pronounced “sizzle”) is accepting ideas for citizen science projects based on Earth observations until 5 May, as Uta Wehn of IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands told delegates at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) Assembly in Vienna.
Shortlisted ideas will proceed to a pitching stage at a CSEOL bootcamp in the summer. They’ll have the chance to receive funding of €15,000–70,000, as well as training and support for a pilot phase.
The agency would like to spur innovation in citizen science projects based on Earth observation data. There are big challenges in climate change and sustainable development, Wehn said, and citizen science projects could help validate the science, build links with policy, educate or result in development of new commercial products and services. All submitted ideas will be protected by a non-disclosure agreement.
Wehn said the European Space Agency believes that Earth observation data have more potential than is currently being exploited, and is looking to bring in creativity from outside. “There’s so much more that could be done with it [the data],” she said.
Entry is open to teams with relevant experience from research institutions, NGOs and private companies; CSEOL will be able to match entrants with people with expertise in other areas. Successful projects could begin as early as September.
