A new citizen science project exploring how shared (public) outdoor spaces affect health and wellbeing. This project is supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) who in the summer of 2017 selected the project as their citizen science project.
The project aims to
- understand the impact shared (e.g. public) outdoor spaces have on the health and wellbeing of the public.
- Investigate whether shared outdoor spaces affect people differently and if so, why and in what ways?
- Identify the best methods for engaging members of the public in citizen science for public health.
The project has four phases: 1. Developing, validating and refining the questionnaire. 2. Piloting the questionnaire in Edinburgh and the Lothians. 3. Analysis, reporting and dissemination of questionnaire data. 4. Roll out of Our Outdoors across the UK.
Several methods of engagement have been used to collaborate with the public to learn about health and wellbeing in specific shared outdoor spaces. To find out more about these method please go to
Draft questionnaire: The information gathered from public engagement activities is being used to draft a questionnaire to measure people’s health and wellbeing in specific shared outdoor spaces. Validating and testing questionnaire: Once the questionnaire is complete citizen scientists will be engaged to conduct cognitive testing of the questionnaire items.
This will inform a final questionnaire. Questionnaire piloting and public engagement activities will take place in Edinburgh and the Lothians before being rolled out across the UK.
Please contact Kathleen.email@example.com for further information.