Spotlight: Meet citizen social scientist Mohammed Rahman

Please tell us about the citizen science work you've done with the UCL Citizen Science Academy at the Institute for Global Prosperity and what you’re hoping to achieve by doing it.

I have recently finished a project with UCL where I’ve been a citizen science researcher. This project was created and based at my local council for a duration of three months and designed particularly for care-leavers (people aged 18-25 with experience of the care system). In the first month we had training at the Town Hall in Tower Hamlets, east London, and then we went on to do our own research fieldwork. Each young person on the programme chose their own topic that links with emotional wellbeing because that we were part of a wider study called Act Early about young people’s health and opportunities. 

For my own research I chose to interview social workers to find out about their role and gather data about how they help young people's emotions and wellbeing. Once I had concluded all my interviews, I decided to make a zine for my output, as well as an audio documentary of the interviews, working with the IGP’s artist-in-residence Naresh Kaushal. The audio was about the conversations I had with social workers and also why I wanted to join the program. You can read my zine, and listen to the audio pieces on SoundCloud here and here – I would be grateful to have you look at my work and understand from my point of view as a care leaver. 
 

What were you hoping to achieve by joining the Academy programme?

This Academy programme has helped me to network with other professions in different fields, for example I had the chance to work with UCL academics who taught me a lot, and I have also met many social workers locally including team managers who recognised me for my work which felt so good. After the program finished I was offered further training within the Council which gave me more opportunities for careers and on top of that I have been offered a short internship with the IGP to help write about the impact of the project.

What is citizen science for you and why do you think it’s important for more people to be trained in research?

Citizen science to me is about gathering information or data, whether that is in the community, wider borough or internationally which represents and understands the local people’s view in the place they live in. I believe it is important for more people to be trained in research as the more people that are involved, the more voices will be heard, so there will be a bigger possibility of positive action. 
 

What do you hope to do next? How do you think your work on citizen science will help you in the future?

What I hope to do in the future is to do more projects with UCL as part time while being flexible in doing my work within the Council. I really enjoyed working as a citizen scientist. It has made me realise that I am capable of multi-tasking and have a lot of potential that I didn't realise I have. While I am still gaining experience as a researcher, I really hope I get the opportunity to do projects with UCL, maybe connecting with their citizen scientists in other countries. I believe this will help me for the future due to learning skills like meeting deadlines, and being able to do teamwork as well as work independently. At this moment of time I am multitasking by continuing work with UCL and doing a new training programme called ASPIRE to get into Council work. 

Long term my goal is to become a personal advisor, a professional who supports care leavers to transition into independent adulthood or work, in my local area of Tower Hamlets. I just have to thank UCL for giving me this opportunity, and my local council. I couldn't have done it without their support. 


What further changes would you like to see in terms of representation of care leavers in research and policy?

The changes I would like to see are more opportunities for young care leavers in employment/training within local councils that can help them develop for future careers, for example after my project with UCL and Act Early I am now on a new training program especially for care leavers which will hopefully then lead to a three-month placement within the Council and then I can apply for full apprenticeship. This training with UCL Citizen Science Academy has given me experience and knowledge that I will use in future job interviews and when applying for the apprenticeship. 

Most care leavers are often worried about money due to not having much help such as family around them, and after turning 25 they won't be classed as a care leaver any more so you get less support. One thing I know as a care leaver myself is that we put a smile on our face and hide our emotions. So my point is that we need to do more engaging with young people and finding out what they really want to do for their future from their point of view, and help them achieve their goals. 
 

Do you have any recommendations for podcasts, books or other publications, or films that have inspired you?

I love watching action movies. In particular I love watching Top Boy because it’s based in places that I know in my local area and I really enjoyed the storyline. I’m also a fan of watching EastEnders. I've been watching it for over 10 years. 

Image shows Mohammed being presented with the UCL Citizen Science Certificate by Steve Reddy, the Corporate Director for Children’s Services at Tower Hamlets Council.