Harnessing Enthusiasm: tree health, ecosocialities and citizens as early-warning systems

How do people, nature, technology and enthusiasm mingle, interact and emerge at different times and in different spaces, in the context of monitoring and managing tree health?

Amateurs, enthusiasts and volunteers have long contributed to scientific research. Today, demand for data on biodiversity outstrips the capacity of professional scientists (in terms of manpower and finance), citizen scientists are therefore increasingly valuable to the design, collection and analysis of scientific data.

Through collaboration with Forest Research, the Sylva Foundation and the Science Museum,  Dr Geoghegan will investigate the development of a UK framework for monitoring tree health through citizen science, specifically how relations between and about nature, technology, science and society are made and sustained.