UpStream: Using Participatory approaches to instigate improvements in water quality

上游项目旨在通过与市民合作，收集数据，分享知识和经验，并开发新技术，改善英国和台湾的水质。受公众已经确定的环境问题的推动，这个参与性项目将增加一系列组织和社区团体之间的联系和行动。英国和台湾都有河流污染的问题。在整个欧洲，法律规定河流水质不应受到人类活动的影响，但最新的评估表明，只有38%的水域达到了这一标准。在台湾，快速的工业化和经济增长对水污染产生了影响。2016年，台湾65%的河流被列为中度污染。随着经济增长的稳定和社会的发展，人们的注意力开始转向水质问题；更严格的水质标准已被纳入政府的前瞻性基础设施计划。在英国和台湾，民众对水质有强烈的不满，并成立了当地社区行动组织，推动水质改善。上游项目旨在通过在这些社区团体和一系列学术和非学术组织之间建立创新伙伴关系来收集数据，分享知识和经验，并开发新技术，从而改善英国和台湾的水质。来自台湾的项目合作伙伴（中央研究院、南大和位置感知系统（LASS））是与公民一起创造创新技术的专家，这些技术可以真正改善环境。他们开发了低成本的空气质量传感器，目前已安装在台湾各地的4000个地点，并将其输入应用程序，以帮助市民避免空气污染。我们的英国合作伙伴纽卡斯尔大学、rain++和RPS是动员公民科学解决水问题的专家。他们在英国和国际上就水问题与公众合作超过15年。我们新的、独特的伙伴关系将把台湾在共同创造技术方面的专业知识与英国在水方面的专业知识结合起来，赋予两国公民改善水质的权力。缺乏水质数据来确定污染源是这两个国家的共同问题，我们的项目旨在解决这一问题。通过该项目计划的活动的利益和直接产出将包括：-社区团体将受益于技术咨询和新的国际支助网络。-通过学生和社区团体的参与，为市民主导的环境管理留下自然遗产。-通过项目团队（LASS、rain++、FondUS），让能够提供水质洞察的科技初创企业参与进来。-通过该项目创建的任何数据或工具都将遵循开放数据协议，使当地社区，感兴趣的研究人员和企业可以访问它们。数据（证据）和工具的共同生产将使社区团体能够在项目结束后与相关组织一起管理当地环境。-政策制定者和监管机构将可以访问通过我们的项目收集的公开数据，并将通过项目参与谈判，帮助启动变革。-原型数据可视化和分析工具，以帮助了解水质问题。-后续工作的空间，继续我们独特的伙伴关系的工作。虽然立法和社会背景不同，但台湾和英国（以及其他地区）在河流污染方面面临着共同的挑战。两国都有公民希望参与进来，看到变化。上游项目旨在通过将公民与学术和行业合作伙伴聚集在一起，进行知识交流和长期支持，从而提供帮助。

The UpStream project aims to improve water quality in the UK and Taiwan by working with citizens to gather data, share knowledge and experiences, and develop new technologies. Motivated by environmental issues already identified by the public, this participatory project will increase connectivity and action across a range of organisations and community groups.Both the UK and Taiwan have problems with pollution of rivers. Across Europe, laws state that river water quality should not be impacted by human activity, but latest assessments suggest that just 38% of waters meet this standard. In Taiwan, rapid industrialisation and economic growth have had an impact on water pollution. In 2016, 65% of Taiwanese rivers were classed as moderately polluted. As economic growth stabilises and society evolves, attention is shifting to water quality issues; tighter water quality standards have been set and are incorporated into the government's Forward-looking Infrastructure plan.In both the UK and Taiwan citizens feel strongly about water quality, and have founded local community action groups to instigate improvements. The UpStream project aims to improve water quality in the UK and Taiwan by creating an innovative partnership between these community groups and a range of academic and non-academic organisations to gather data, share knowledge and experiences, and develop new technologies.The project partners from Taiwan (Academia Sinica, NTU and Location Aware Sensing System (LASS)) are experts in creating innovative technology with citizens that leads to real environmental improvements. They have developed low-cost air quality sensors that are now installed in 4,000 locations across Taiwan, and that feed into apps to help citizens avoid air pollution. Our UK partners at Newcastle University, Rain++ and RPS are experts in mobilising citizen science to address water problems. They have worked with the public on water issues in the UK and internationally for over 15 years. Our new and unique partnership will combine Taiwanese expertise in co-creating technology with citizens with UK expertise in water to empower citizens in both countries to improve water quality. Lack of water quality data to identify sources of pollution is a common problem in both countries, and our project aims to fix that.Benefits and direct outputs of the activities planned through the project will include:-Community groups will benefit from technical advice and a new, international support network.-A natural legacy for citizen-led environmental management through the involvement of students and community groups.-The involvement of tech start-ups that can provide insights into water quality, through their inclusion in the project team (LASS, Rain++, FondUS).-Any data or tools created through the project will follow open data protocols, making them accessible to local communities, interested researchers and businesses. The co-production of data (evidence) and tools will empower community groups to manage their local environment alongside relevant organisations after the project has ended.-Policy makers and regulators will have access to the open data collected through our project and will participate in talks through the project, helping to initiate change.-A prototype data visualisation and analysis tool, to aid understanding of water quality issues.-A scope for follow-on work, to continue the work of our unique partnership.Whilst the legislative and societal contexts differ, Taiwan and the UK (and beyond) share common challenges with river pollution. Both have citizens that want to get involved and see change. The UpStream project aims to help by bringing together citizens with academic and industry partners for knowledge-exchange and long-term support.