Public engagement
Open Air Laboratories (OPAL)
OPAL (Open Air Laboratories) is funded by the Big Lottery Fund with the aim of inspiring the next generation of nature lovers. The project is encouraging people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environments.
OPAL is made up of 15 partner organisations and is led by Imperial College London. Regional activities are being carried out by researchers at SEI and the Environment Department at the University of York.
We're mainly working with disadvantaged groups in Yorkshire and the Humber, developing a variety of techniques to engage communities:
Participatory mapping
Activities in Tang Hall, York, have included mapping past uses of greenspace and memories of species seen by elderly residents, using participatory mapping methodologies. Rapid Appraisal GIS techniques have also been used in York to map current greenspace use and barriers to the use of such spaces.
Workshops
We’ve run a variety of workshops and open days in local greenspaces that have been attended by members of the public. These have included pond-dipping, spider workshops, bat walks, lichen hunting, and earthworm surveys. These give members of the public the opportunity to learn a little about local urban wildlife.
Training courses
After attending a workshop or open day, people often want to learn more, so we are running free basic species identification courses. Topics covered so far have been plants, insects, fungi and birds. The courses include a basic introduction to the group of organisms and a field trip to a local nature reserve. We then “signpost” people to their local natural history society and other relevant organisations.
Further information