Citizen science can help generating valuable data on climate change: Geetha Ramaswami at Earth Again Conference

Bhubaneswar: Citizen science can play an important role in documenting environmental changes and generating valuable data on climate change, said Dr Geetha Ramaswami, founder of SeasonWatch, at the Earth Again Conference 2026 organised by Sambad at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar. Speaking at a special session on the concluding day of the three-day conference, Ramaswami said data collected by ordinary citizens can become a valuable scientific resource if it is properly verified and compared with established scientific observations. She said scientists often remain cautious about using data generated through citizen science platforms because such information may not always follow the same rigorous methods as mainstream scientific data. However, citizen science has mechanisms through which observations can be verified and compared with conventional scientific datasets. “Whenever someone makes a claim or reports having observed something, it is important to establish whether the observation is accurate,” she said. Ramaswami highlighted the growing impact of climate change on trees and seasonal patterns. She said several trees, including mango and jackfruit, are gradually declining, with climate change emerging as one of the major factors behind the change. She explained that technology can make it easier for people to participate in environmental monitoring. Citizens can take photographs of trees and use online expert platforms to identify them. They can also register on applications and regularly report seasonal changes in trees. According to Ramaswami, individual observations may appear small in isolation, but when hundreds of people across India contribute such information, the combined data can create a vast pool of knowledge. She stressed that wider participation by citizens in collecting and documenting environmental data can strengthen understanding of changes in nature and provide scientists with valuable information to study the impact of climate change.