Leader of Digital Citizen Science Center, Natural Scientist
Finnish Digital Citizen Science Centre
The Finnish Digital Citizen Science Centre enables citizen science projects where citizens can participate in scientific research projects and gain immediate benefits and joy from them. The project is based on the Research for JYU Mobile (RFJM) mobile application platform developed by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, which allows the creation of applications tailored to the needs of various citizen science projects.
The Finnish Digital Citizen Science Centre is a joint project of four faculties at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. The consortium also includes the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus at the University of Helsinki.
The goal of this multidisciplinary centre is to harness new digital research methods and tools for citizen science. The mobile application platform developed within the project is utilized in research projects representing various fields of science, with the goal of giving citizens the opportunity to participate by providing observations and data.
The aim is to conduct high-quality multidisciplinary research on topics such as the causes of biodiversity loss, the effects of home-based physical exercises on personal health, or the impacts of digital environments on the learning of school-aged children.
In addition to creating and utilizing mobile applications, the Finnish Digital Citizen Science Centre organizes events, for example, in the university’s library building Lähde, and actively collaborates with educational institutions nationwide.
Modern smartphones are significantly more powerful than their predecessors, functioning as supercomputers that enable anyone to participate in cutting-edge scientific research (Image: Science Museum of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥).
With Muuttolintujen kevät app you can identify which bird is singing. The app already has over 270,000 users.
Natural Scientist - Observe Birds with AI
Project goal and significance: We collect audio recordings from which AI identifies bird species. The bird observations help gather information on how species abundances vary over space and over seasons, on daily singing behaviors, and on long-term changes in bird populations.
How to participate: Have you ever wondered what birds are singing in your backyard, by the cottage shore, or along your commute, but can't identify them? Download the Muuttolintujen kevät app, review the terms of use, and head out into nature to record bird observations with your smart device. User data remains anonymous.
Download the app:
Health Scientist - Study Your Health with a Mobile App
Project goal and significance: We are developing a mobile app that allows citizens to independently perform various tests related to their physiological and cognitive functioning. The data collected through the app will help us address new questions about human health, exercise, and rehabilitation. By combining science and technology, we aim to find solutions to reduce the burden on healthcare and improve the accessibility and efficiency of care, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
How to participate: In a later phase of the project, we will be looking for participants to join our research. Citizens will also have the opportunity to monitor their health by visiting our test station set up in the Lähde building.
With the app being developed, anyone can monitor their health through various physiological and cognitive tests.
We are exploring the types of experiences people have in nature and what gives rise to these experiences.
Citizen humanities - Share Your Nature Experiences
Project goal and significance: We are developing an AI-powered automated interview app that collects experiential data related to nature. In addition to studying nature experiences, the project will provide insights into the possibilities of using AI in qualitative research.
How to participate: Once the interview app is ready, we will invite interested citizens from the Muuttolintujen kevät app users to participate in interviews about their nature-related experiences. The app will allow users to share stories about nature spots that enhance well-being, as well as to voice concerns about various environmental issues.
Education Scientists – New Insights into the Links Between Learning and Well-being
Project Objective and Significance:
We are investigating the still poorly understood connections between learning, learning difficulties, and factors that support learning, as well as their relationship to well-being. Data will be collected from the home environment of students and their families, focusing on real-time experiences related to school motivation, school tasks, hobbies, physical activity, nature experiences, and the use of digital platforms such as social media apps.
How to Participate:
The mobile app is still under development. We will announce opportunities to participate in the research on our website once the app is ready for use. Data collection will initially take place at the Centre of Excellence for Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research (InterLearn) in connection with the Pieni Karhu study. More information can be found at: .
Students' experiences are gathered from outside the classroom, during their free time.
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Chief technology officer
Project coordinator
Science education
Health Scientist
Educational Scientist
Human Scientist
