Community Talk August 2025
The natural environment in the Philippines is under increasing pressure due to habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change. Addressing these complex challenges requires not only scientific expertise and responsible policymaking, but also the active involvement of the public. Citizen science offers a powerful means of democratizing science by enabling non-experts to participate meaningfully in data collection, monitoring, and problem-solving. However, capacity in citizen science methodology—both quantitative and qualitative—remains limited in the Philippines.
In this community talk, we will share how Hasselt University, KU Leuven, Visayas State University, and Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology collaborated to bridge this gap through the International Training Program “Co-CiPhil: Co-creating Environmental Citizen Science Capacity in the Philippines.”
The program was launched to train Filipino educators and researchers in citizen science approaches. Through targeted workshops, it equipped participants with the skills needed to design, implement, and evaluate citizen science initiatives. We reflect on the key challenges encountered during the process, and highlight specific strategies and decisions that contributed to its success. Finally, we present how our joint efforts have laid the foundation for multiple research projects and educational initiatives at both university and high school levels, promoting broader public engagement in science and environmental stewardship.
Speakers
Prof. dr. Thomas Neyens, Hasselt University & KU Leuven, Belgium
Prof Daisy Lou Lim-Polestico, Ph.D., Mindanao State University, Philippines