About the Project
Citizen Science communities, projects and initiatives are still increasingly enriching the European landscape – both at national and at international level. It has to be however underlined that despite the global population is ageing – it’s expected that over 21 percent of people worldwide will be over the age of 60 by the year 2050 – many initiatives target students, with the idea that our best resources are spent raising a scientifically literate next generation. While it’s certainly vital to instil a passion for science and data in our youths, we should also be devoting resources and effort to teaching our oldest members of society about them.
Empowering seniors in science literacy would help mitigate the effects of many diseases like Alzheimer or other forms of dementia by ensuring a better social engagement. ACTIVATOR is a project aimed to enhance older citizens (60+) engagement in Citizen Science initiatives to empower to activate social changes in their local neighbourhood and communities in collaboration with relevant community organisations and academic partners. ACTIVATOR aims to create a training pathway via an e-learning platform for adult organisation staff. This platform will provide guidance on effectively educating and engaging senior citizens in Citizen Science endeavours.
Activities
- Project management and monitoring.
- Development of the ACTIVATOR methodology + face to face Local Pilot Workshops in the partner countries.
- Development of the e-Learning Platform + on-line Pilot Workshop.
- Development and dissemination of the communication materials.
- Organization of the local multiplier events – Science Days in the partner countries.
Objectives
Encourage intercultural dialogue with the objective of fostering mutual understanding and respect between individuals from different cultures.
Promote peace, nonviolence and human rights as a fundamental tool to reach a world of equality and solidarity in which all human beings can access their fundamental rights.
Enhance older citizens (60+) engagement in Citizen Science initiatives to empower to activate social changes in their local neighbourhood and communities.
Promote non formal education as a fundamental tool in the education of youth and adults and as complementary to formal education.
Promote personal and community development.
Create new innovative tools and methodologies to develop useful strategies in the field of education through cooperation with public and private entities at local and international level.
Promote study, research and innovation, both methodological and technological.
Results
ACTIVATOR Training Methodology
- ACTIVATOR Training Syllabus for the staff of different organisations working for the benefit of seniors on how to educate senior citizens about and engage them in Citizen Science.
- ACTIVATOR Manual presenting not only the knowledge about Citizen Science and forms of activating senior adults but also hands-on tips on how to successfully engage seniors in Citizen Science initiatives and maintain their participation.
ACTIVATOR e-Learning Platform providing access to the training content
News
Great start for the ACTIVATOR project!
On Tuesday 9th April 2024, the ACTIVATOR project was presented to potential professionals and stakeholders in an event titled “Invecchiamento e Benessere” (ageing and well-being). Among the participants there were members of the Municipality of Palermo, specifically...
ACTIVATOR – Engaging older adults in citizen science
On the 22nd and 23rd of February 2024, it was held the first in-person meeting of the ACTIVATOR project (project number: 2023-1-PT01-KA220-ADU-000126237). ACTIVATOR is project co-funded by the European Union, which main objective is to enhance older citizens’ (60+)...
Partners
