YEREVAN, Armenia, January 18, 2023 – The OTTERS Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at scaling up citizen science in marine and freshwater governance, received €1 Million from the European Union (EU) Horizon Europe program.

The project brings together a consortium of 12 partners from 10 countries and will be coordinated by the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment. OTTERS is set to commence on January 1, 2023, and will run for a duration of 2.5 years.

Citizen science, which involves public participation and open collaboration in scientific research, is becoming increasingly crucial in fostering citizen engagement and stewardship of the natural environment, while also contributing to scientific knowledge.

The OTTERS consortium aims to accelerate the advancement of citizen science initiatives focused on water within the EU. The project will facilitate the creation and adoption of technical, legal, and ethical standards for citizen science protocols and methods.

The OTTERS Project will assess the effectiveness of citizen science in promoting societal transformation towards sustainable aquatic ecosystem stewardship.

OTTERS will also conduct pilot Spring-to-Sea Stewardship Campaigns, which will bring together diverse communities and stakeholders to address watershed-based challenges.

“This project offers the chance to expand our work of connecting AUA and Armenia to the global research and transformation agenda on environmental governance,” said Prof. Alen Amirkhanian, Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment. “We will focus on the Lake Sevan basin, engaging communities, including schoolchildren, youth, municipalities, and businesses, to foster their active participation.”

Amirkhanian also highlighted the significance of citizen science initiatives for children and youth, as they provide an extension of STEM education by making science relevant to their immediate surroundings. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration, stating, “Importantly, we will be connected with other similar initiatives in Europe where we will work and learn in collaboration with our international partners.”

The OTTERS Project will explore potential pilot Spring-to-Sea Stewardship Campaigns in various locations, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Portugal, and Israel. These campaigns will address specific challenges faced by local communities and their watersheds, ultimately striving for sustainable management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems.