Case study: Living Soil citizen science project
Photo acknowledgement:
- Primary
- Outdoor
- Citizen science, Experiment, Hands-on activity
- Netherlands
Living Soil citizen science project
The Living Soil project (in Dutch: Levende Bodem) operates within the framework of GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment), a global community comprising 37,000 schools across over 100 countries, where students and scientists collaborate. In The Netherlands, the project involves secondary school pupils in exploring their local environments and gathering data on soil quality parameters. This data serves both global research and educational purposes, enriching pupils’ understanding of research methodologies and soil health. The initiative is run by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
Objective
The specific objectives of the Living Soil project are:
- To educate and train students on assessing soil health and understanding its significance.
- To provide students with training in scientific research methods.
- To generate data for scientific research and educational purposes.
Approach
The Living Soil project uses a citizen science approach, in which pupils collect data on various soil parameters using standardised protocols. This data is then submitted to a database accessible to scientists worldwide for research purposes, as well as to pupils and teachers for educational use. Through this hands-on activity, pupils not only acquire knowledge about soil health but also develop a sense of ownership as their data contributes to broader scientific endeavours.
The specific research questions investigated in this project are:
- What lives in the soil?
- How much CO2 does all life in the soil emit?
- What does a soil profile look like?
- What is the quality of the soil?
The project empowers pupils to directly participate in scientific research while highlighting the importance of soil in food production. This collaboration between schools and RIVM strengthens the connection between science and society, fostering international school exchanges and contributing valuable data to the Dutch Atlas of Natural Capital. Leveraging online platforms further extends the project’s reach and impact.