Citizen Science Leaders join one day programme
More than 140 HSBC employees attended Citizen Science Leader (CSL) training days across the globe in March, as part of The HSBC Water Programme, a five-year learning and research partnership programme collaboration between Earthwatch, HSBC, WWF and WaterAid.
HSBC IT Development Specialist, Priscilla Hui, became one of the programme’s first freshwater ambassadors after successfully completing the inaugural CSL training day in Hong Kong on March 9.
Priscilla, who joined 21 other CSLs at the Open University of Hong Kong and at two sites along the Lam Tsuen River, said the experience had opened her eyes to some of the freshwater issues facing the planet .
“Earthwatch told us that …only 2.5% of the world’s water is freshwater and only 0.0075% of that is accessible. I think we’re at a tipping point and that sparks urgency in people; that they need to face this crisis (now),” Priscilla said.
Between now and 2016, the HSBC Water Programme will see 7,500 HSBC employees train as CSLs and engage up to a further 100,000 people with online learning, 'hands-on' research days, and on-going self-directed data collection.
Senior Freshwater Research Manager for the programme, Dr Steven Loiselle, said CSL days were a unique opportunity to bring science and citizen science together to meet important and far reaching goals.
“Each participant will have the opportunity to work with a scientist and each scientist will have the opportunity to extend his or her reach through eyes and hands of trained citizen scientist. The project will explore ecosystems that have yet to be investigated and allow for a comparison that is unprecedented."
CSLs will provide fundamental support to local scientists and decision makers as well as contributing to global research questions regarding the availability of quality freshwater ecosystems.
Earthwatch has already worked in close partnership with HSBC for over ten years – five in the Investing in Nature programme and a further five as part of the HSBC Climate Partnership. These programmes have engaged and motivated thousands of HSBC staff worldwide, helping them to value their environment and take action to manage impacts in their workplace and in their communities.
For more information on the programme, visit thewaterhub.org
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