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BMC Ecology

Volume 16 Supplement 1

Citizen science through the OPAL lens

Open Access

Surveying the citizen science landscape: an exploration of the design, delivery and impact of citizen science through the lens of the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) programme

  • Linda Davies1Email author,
  • Roger Fradera1,
  • Hauke Riesch2 and
  • Poppy Lakeman-Fraser1
BMC EcologyBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted201616(Suppl 1):17

Published: 22 July 2016

This paper provides a short introduction to the topic of citizen science (CS) identifying the shift from the knowledge deficit model to more inclusive, participatory science. It acknowledges the benefits of new technology and the opportunities it brings for mass participation and data manipulation. It focuses on the increase in interest in CS in recent years and draws on experience gained from the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) programme launched in England in 2007.

The drivers and objectives for OPAL are presented together with background information on the partnership, methods and scales. The approaches used by researchers ranged from direct public participation in mass data collection through field surveys to research with minimal public engagement. The supporting services focused on education, particularly to support participants new to science, a media strategy and data services.

Examples from OPAL are used to illustrate the different approaches to the design and delivery of CS that have emerged over recent years and the breadth of opportunities for public participation the current landscape provides. Qualitative and quantitative data from OPAL are used as evidence of the impact of CS.

While OPAL was conceived ahead of the more recent formalisation of approaches to the design, delivery and analysis of CS projects and their impact, it nevertheless provides a range of examples against which to assess the various benefits and challenges emerging in this fast developing field.

Citizen SciencePublic ParticipationOpal ProgrammePublic EngagementProfessional Scientist

The term ‘citizen science’ is a broad term used to encapsulate a range of different activities, but in its essence, it partners professional scientists with volunteers in shared endeavour to study the physical and biological world. In this paper, we present an introduction to the historical context of citizen science (CS), and provide an overview of one programme cited as such, the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network, from concept through delivery and impact. We use OPAL as a framework against which to review the multifarious forms that citizen science activities may take. We compare current thinking on the design, delivery and impact of CS projects with experience gained from the OPAL programme and consider the contribution CS can make to broader scientific endeavour and societal concerns.

Historical context of citizen science

The advent of ‘citizen science’

The contribution by members of the public to the collection, analysis and dissemination of scientific data is not a new occurrence. Volunteers, with no formal qualifications or affiliations, have contributed substantially to scientific discovery. The voluntary efforts of the ‘gentleman scientists’, such as Benjamin Franklin and Charles Darwin, made significant contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge across a range of domains while making their living from other or private means [1].

Alongside individual enthusiasts, amateur societies, which have a long and rich history, have also provided mechanisms for public participation in science. Many societies provide forums to bring together professional and amateur members for fieldwork, education, promotion and conservation, while also actively encouraging and supporting involvement from the wider population. These opportunities have spanned a range of disciplines, with particular success in astronomy and environmental studies [2, 3].

While citizen-involved scientific activities continued throughout the twentieth century, there remained a division between the general public and those with high levels of expertise. That level of expertise could be acquired by citizens through the accredited training provided by the professionalised scientific realm or through the expenditure of considerable amounts of time, money and effort in self-directed study. Scientific expertise therefore remained the purview of a minority and those that gained it stood apart from the mass of society [4].

In this paradigm, the public generally had been conceived of as the passive beneficiary of scientific advancement and knowledge, without themselves having a particular voice in either the science itself or its policy applications because, being a lay audience, they lacked the necessary expertise to contribute. This “cognitive deficit” model is a term coined by Wynne [5] as a means of criticising this attitude towards the public (lack of) understanding of science and now is in widespread usage to refer somewhat disparagingly to old-style science communication. It diagnoses a deficiency in public knowledge and understanding of science and proscribes filling this deficit through processes where the public remains the recipient of scientific knowledge (with the process being one directional and educational in nature). Over time this view was challenged by studies that demonstrated the value of local and amateur knowledge to science [68] and the important contribution this can make to science policy. In parallel it was increasingly recognised that greater public science literacy does not automatically translate into more deferential support of expert opinion, nor a generally more enthusiastic public towards science [9].

The emergence of the term ‘citizen science’

The term “citizen science” was applied independently at about the same time in the United Kingdom and the United States (mid-1990s). Building on the developments outlined previously, citizen science was promoted by Irwin in the UK who, coming from a background of sociological research, envisioned a new strain of science where the professionals interact with the public to jointly formulate new knowledge and make informed decisions [9]. This tradition advocated a move away from the “deficit” model and instead emphasised that the public should engage with science rather than merely understand it, and also that scientists and experts need to be attentive towards the arguments and contributions the public can make towards science and scientifically informed policy. All this signalling that the communication between public and science should go both ways. As a result and alongside increasing recognition that society could and should play a more active role in the scientific process, new innovative science communication and other public engagement activities, such as science shops [10] and citizen juries [11], foreground democratic and active participation with experts developed. The aim was a critical two-way exchange rather than the mere transfer of knowledge from expert to public.

Independently of Irwin, however, the term “citizen science” was applied in the U.S. by Rick Bonney [12] to refer to a type of public engagement project that he and his colleagues were pioneering at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. They aimed to combine the substantive tradition of amateur participation in ornithology research with an element of science communication and education targetted at those participating. This combination proved to be very successful and became an inspiration for the set-up of many similar projects both within the U.S. and abroad. Contemporary concepts of citizen science to an extent combine the aspirations of both, and citizen science activities arising from the tradition of Bonney can be seen as a possible way in which aspirations for Irwin’s citizen scientists can, in part, be realised.

Technological advancements supporting the growth of citizen science

Alongside changes in perceptions regarding the value to society of a more engaged, scientifically literate citizenship, technological advancements have transformed the public’s capability to contribute to scientific activities.

More powerful and internet-connected home computers have greatly increased the capacity of citizens to receive, collect and analyse data [1, 13]. The advent of the internet has improved communications, facilitated the development of new cultural processes, such as the crowdsourcing and sharing of data, and supported the growth of online networks of enthusiastic and interested participants [14]. The increasing sophistication of smartphones has turned every device into a potential mobile sensing station, with capabilities to record, interrogate and transmit global positioning system (GPS) location, time, images, acoustic information and other data [1518]. Alongside increasing the capability of citizens to collect data, technology can also greatly improve confidence in those data. Sensors record data with known margins for error, while novel applications of existing technology can support data validation (for example, the submission of high resolution digital photographs for verification by experts) [19, 20].

While many new technologies supporting citizen science are ubiquitous in the developed world, technology can also promote participation in citizen science by citizens in less prosperous parts of the world. Sapelli [21], a mobile platform for data collection and sharing, was designed primarily for non-literate and illiterate users with little or no previous experience with computing technologies, supporting environmental monitoring by indigenous communities, which includes vulnerable groups with little involvement in the management of land on which they live [22].

The OPAL programme

Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) was designed as an environmental education and research programme delivered through a national network of partners based originally in England (2007–2013) [23] and extended across the United Kingdom (2014-current).

Research and outreach drivers

The main scientific drivers behind OPAL were: (a) the objectives for sustainable development defined at the Rio Summit through the Conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change, and Agenda 21 [24]; (b) the UK crisis in taxonomy [25]; and (c) the decline in outdoor learning in the UK [26]. The unprecedented loss of global ecosystems [27] provided further evidence of the urgency of addressing these issues. Following the Rio Summit sustainable development was incorporated into the heart of UK government policy [28]. It was acknowledged then that government alone could not secure a more sustainable future and that everyone had a role to play. Community groups and the voluntary sector inter alia were identified as important participants in this endeavour. As sustainable development became more widely recognised so did the urgency of both the task ahead and the need for greater public awareness and engagement.

In the UK the National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund [29] is recognised as a leading supporter of programmes that improve social well-being and address relevant policy areas. In 2005 they established a major new funding initiative, Changing Spaces, calling for environmental projects that would educate and engage local communities in sustainable development. Emphasis was placed on supporting disadvantaged communities in their local environment but the programme was designed to reach all sectors of society. OPAL was therefore conceived in response to a recognised policy need (sustainable development and the environment) and funded by a national public body.

In response to this call in 2005, Imperial College London (ICL) proposed a very simple concept: take scientists out of their institutions and into the heart of the community to share knowledge and engage local communities in field-based research.

The three research topics relevant to the identified research and outreach drivers were: pollution (air, water and soil), loss of biodiversity and climate.

The majority of OPAL-England partners were research scientists who were used to meeting regularly to share knowledge and develop collaborative research. They were joined by representatives from local and national government and their agencies and leading environmental organisations, such as the Natural History Museum (NHM), as well as community organisations affected by environmental issues such as the impact of air pollution and loss of biodiversity (parks and conservation managers). These meetings were initially funded through a network grant provided to ICL by the Engineering and Research Council [30] for the Air Pollution Research in London (APRIL) network in 1999 [31]. Davies established the APRIL Natural Environment Group from which the OPAL proposal emerged (APRIL is now managed by the Greater London Authority). The OPAL partnership was therefore largely already established as a collaborative research network familiar with research and policy needs (drivers).

Reflecting the aims and objectives of the Big Lottery Fund, the programme sought to engage a wide audience, particularly people from disadvantaged sectors of society, people not previously engaged with nature, as well as the general public. All partners recognised and supported these aims although for many it was their first experience of working directly with the public.

ICL was initially awarded £11.8m by Big Lottery Fund to direct and manage the OPAL programme, with additional funds (£1.3m 2010; £1.4m 2012) awarded in subsequent years as the impact of the public participation activities was recognised. In 2014 further funding (£3.0m) was awarded to extend the community engagement work across the UK (OPAL-UK). An overall goal was agreed initially of one million beneficiaries comprising 500,000 through field studies and 500,000 online (with a further 100,000 in-field beneficiaries to be delivered through the OPAL-UK programme). Other targets were agreed and a range of quantitative data was gathered throughout the programme, for example demographic data (i.e. percentage of disadvantaged communities reached and age ranges of participants), media circulation data, web visitors etc., whilst qualitative data were gathered through comment boxes on the website, online and in-field questionnaires, and by social scientists employed to work on the programme.

There were five key objectives:
  1. 1.

    Supporting a change of lifestyle, a purpose to spend time outdoors, observing and recording the local environment;

  2. 2.

    Developing an exciting and innovative educational programme that can be accessed and enjoyed by all ages and abilities;

  3. 3.

    Inspiring a new generation of environmentalists;

  4. 4.

    Gaining a much greater understanding of the state of the natural environment for research and policy purposes;

  5. 5.

    Building stronger partnerships between the community, voluntary and statutory sectors.

Programme design and structure

The OPAL network is illustrated in Fig. 1. ICL directed and managed the programme guided by an external Advisory Board and supported by a series of regional and (under OPAL-UK) national committees that sought to coordinate activities and, in doing so, maximise programme impacts and support the OPAL objective to promote stronger partnerships between the community, voluntary and statutory sectors.
Fig. 1

Funded partners in the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network. Geographic locations of regional partners with engagement staff (Community Scientists) are displayed on the map and partners leading national research centres and providing essential supporting services are listed to the left. The period during which partners were active in the OPAL network is indicated

Under the original programme, OPAL established nine regional teams. Each was based in a university and worked directly with local people on research and educational projects of relevance to their region. Community Scientists, a new role created for the programme, worked under the direction of the regional lead scientist and, together with the schools programme [led by the Field Studies Council (FSC)] and public parks programme (led by the Royal Parks), were the main public engagement mechanisms, motivating and engaging local people. Under OPAL-UK, new partners extended public engagement activities to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

OPAL initially set up research and educational centres (Fig. 1) to provide scientific expertise, carry out research with varying degrees of public engagement (science workshops, public demonstrations, training days, publications in plain English, online progress reports, blogs and attending local and national fairs and events), and deliver research and educational tools. They also led the design and analysis of the OPAL field surveys, OPAL’s primary citizen science activities. A large support service underpinned the programme including a national media strategy, web services, data management, and publications.

Engaging participants outdoors

It was recognised that deprived communities and people from disadvantaged sectors of society were less likely to engage through mainstream media or traditional approaches to public engagement in science so a significant proportion of staff time was spent working to engage these groups. The Index of Multiple Deprivation [32] helped to identify areas to target work and guidance from local authorities and local voluntary sector representatives, including those represented on OPAL regional and national committees, also helped Community Scientists to make contact with minority groups. These and many other innovative approaches were used to build relationships of trust with local communities through repeated face-to-face contact.

Engaging participants through digital tools and media

In addition to the significant staff resources (the original programme comprised fifteen organisations and over 100 staff employed in either full, part-time or in voluntary capacities) used to achieve OPAL’s direct participation objectives, digital tools and traditional media services were used to reach the general public.

The OPAL website [33] provides the main interface for all participants. It houses the OPAL database where all public data are initially submitted, provides instant feedback through interactive visualisations and mapping, as well as presenting research findings in plain English. It also contains all of the educational materials OPAL has developed (free to download), blog posts on community achievements, scientist profiles, and topical news. Further digital projects, such as iSpot and Indicia, were also developed as part of the programme (see below).

A media strategy was designed and led by OPAL partner, the NHM, with their extensive experience of public engagement and all partners, staff and students were encouraged, trained and supported to contribute.

Classifying citizen science

Citizen science has grown to the extent whereby an understanding of the breadth of projects classified as CS can be helpful to drive the field forward. While elements of volunteer involvement in science have been practiced for centuries, Silvertown [1] notes that the modern use of the term citizen science has only been recognised relatively recently. For example, in January 2009 only 56 articles in the search engine ISI Web of Knowledge were explicitly tagged with the term ‘citizen science’; by January 2016 this had risen to over 11,000. Academic publications are not the only indication of the rise of citizen science; the discipline has now reached a maturity where there have been various conferences [34, 35], interest groups [36] and, membership organisations [3739], seeking to share best practice among practitioners. As the concept of CS has developed a number of classification models have been proposed to understand the diversity of the practice.

At the broadest conceptual scale, Dickinson and Bonney [40] proposed four axes along which environmental CS varies: initiator of projects (academics or public), scale and duration (global/local, short term/long term); types of questions (pattern detection to hypothesis led); and goals (research, education and stewardship).

Reflecting a number of these axes, Prainsack [41], working mainly from the perspective of medical citizen science projects, distinguished them along a number of different dimensions. These include, for example, who has the ability to set the agenda, how the project affects local communities and how open it is with the resulting data and scientific research. Haklay et al. [42] propose a classification framework based on the level of participation from citizens: those requiring the least involvement as (i) ‘Crowdsourcing’, whereby citizens volunteer computing power or provide and maintain sensors; next (ii) ‘Distributed intelligence’, whereby the cognitive abilities of participants is utilised to collect or interpret basic data, sometimes with more limited, prior training; next (iii) ‘Participatory sensing’, where citizens are involved in problem definition and work with scientists to design a data collection methodology; and finally (iv) ‘Extreme citizen science’, where the relationship between scientist and citizen is collaborative, with opportunities for citizen involvement at all stages of the scientific process, with professional scientists acting “as facilitators, in addition to their role as experts” (p. 12). Wiggins and Crowston [43] identified five types of citizen science projects, including action projects (instigated by the local community to address matters of civic concern), virtual projects (based on internet contributions), investigation projects (driven by scientific aims requiring data collection from the physical world), conservation projects (promoting stewardship of natural resources), and education projects (focusing on education and outreach through formal and informal learning opportunities). For example, some celebrated internet-based and science led projects such as Galaxy Zoo [44] would in this classification fall under both virtual and investigation type.

OPAL, conceived in 2005, can be considered a pioneer in the application of large-scale CS even though it was not explicitly designed to any established framework of criteria for CS. We utilise the aforementioned broad conceptual framework of Dickinson and Bonney [40] (which encapsulates many other more detailed classification systems) and draw on examples from OPAL to investigate the breadth of citizen science in this section.

Initiator of project

Along one of Dickinson and Bonney’s four axes—initiator—the Centre for the Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) [45] propose three categories for citizen science projects based on the amount of control that participants have over the different steps of the activity: (i) Contributory projects, where the activity has been designed by professional scientists and to which citizens are invited to contribute data as per the specified methodology; (ii) Collaborative projects, where scientists still lead the project but citizens are invited to refine the design of activities, analyse data, or disseminate findings; and (iii) Co-created projects, where the activities are designed by scientists and citizens working together and “public participants are actively involved in most or all steps of the scientific process” [45].

OPAL is policy driven and the majority of research questions were formulated by academics, their students, or collaborating organisations, and therefore citizens, in the main, acted in a contributory fashion, providing data they collected to answer research questions and using methodologies as defined and developed by professional scientists. OPAL’s main mechanism for engaging the public occurs when public participation is intrinsic to research methodology (although not the research questions), namely the national field survey series (the OPAL surveys). The OPAL surveys allow people to work independently at a time, place and pace of their choosing, or directly in the field with OPAL Community Scientists (or other groups trained by OPAL) providing guidance and support. OPAL has developed seven surveys to date (and several mini surveys), each focusing on a different environmental topic (Table 1). The surveys often use biomonitoring within their methodologies, an approach long used [46] whereby selected biological organisms can provide information on the state of their environment. OPAL surveys include equipment such as strips for pH measurements and tape measures as well as laminated, illustrated, instruction cards (with policy links and health and safety advice). In terms of their intended audience, the surveys were designed with an educated 13–14 year old in mind or adults new to environmental issues, however younger or less able participants can take part with appropriate support or with materials suitably adapted. Survey data are entered directly by participants to the OPAL database via the OPAL website and analysed by the lead scientist for that topic. When the first OPAL survey was launched (OPAL Soil and Earthworm Survey, 2009) lack of access to a computer proved a problem so a free post address was introduced.
Table 1

The OPAL national citizen science surveys

Survey name

Launch date

Output examples

OPAL Soil and Earthworm Survey

Which species of earthworm are found in which soil and habitat types

1. Assessment of site characteristics

2. Assessment of soil properties

3. Earthworm ID

Hypothesis led and policy links e.g. [71]

OPAL Air Survey

Bio-indicators assessing local pollution and distribution of lichens and Tar spot on Sycamore

1. Assessment of site characteristics

2. Assessment of tree characteristics

3. Identification of indicator lichens/fungus

Hypothesis led e.g. [56]

OPAL Water Survey

Water quality of ponds

1. Assessment of site characteristics

2. Assessment of water clarity

3. pH test

4. Identification of indicator invertebrates

Hypothesis led e.g. [59]

OPAL Biodiversity Survey

Condition of hedges

1. Assessment of site and hedge characteristics

2. Assessment of food resources

3. Identification of invertebrates

4. Tracking presence of other species

Hypothesis led: e.g. [70]

OPAL Climate Survey

Human activities and climate

1. Observations of aircraft contrails

2. Measurement of wind speed and direction

3. Thermal comfort

Validation e.g. [57]

OPAL Bugs Count Survey

Impact of a changing environment on urban and rural areas

1. Assessment of site characteristics

2. Assessment of microhabitats

3. Identification of invertebrates

Distribution monitoring e.g. [60]

OPAL Tree Health Survey

Condition of trees and the pests and diseases that affect them

1. Assessment of site characteristics

2. ID of common pests and diseases

3. ID of threatening pests and diseases

Policy requirement: e.g. Defra strategy [58]

The OPAL surveys were designed to provide a low technology approach to citizen science (and thus reducing barriers to participation, particularly for groups from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, a focus for OPAL’s engagement); the opportunity to exploit new technologies and develop digital communities was, however, recognised as an important mechanism for OPAL to deliver its objectives. Some activities were undertaken in response to social and technological developments; for example, the arrival and increased public ownership of smartphones led to developing OPAL survey data submission via mobile phones (first used in 2011 for the OPAL Climate Survey) and a first app (in 2012 for the OPAL Bugs Count Survey). However, an integrated series of digital projects that sought to exploit crowdsourcing capabilities while building a new digital community was built into the OPAL programme by design.

iSpot [47] an online, interactive social network aimed to help the public to correctly identify wildlife and to build and reward the development of taxonomic skills. Participants share photographs of wildlife on the website and a community of amateur experts and professional scientists then provide participants with either verification of their identification or propose new identifications. The online experts providing support were initially OPAL-funded staff members but natural history societies very quickly became interested in the data being submitted by the public and, increasingly, as non-expert users developed their taxonomic skills, they also contributed to verification of records submitted by other users; in so doing iSpot could be considered a CS project that can span both of the CAISE classifications of contributory and collaborative CS. iSpot to January 2016 had >55,000 registered users who supported the identification of >700,000 records (personal communication, Janice Ansine). More than half of the submissions were identified within an hour (and >80 % were named to species level) [48].

While the majority of OPAL’s CS activities would fall into contributory or, perhaps, collaborative classifications, there are examples where co-created or entirely citizen-led CS has occurred, often developing organically from OPAL activities. For example, staff members at the OPAL Yorkshire and Humber regional project (University of York), together with a local ranger, were interested in working with local people to monitor the colonisation of flora and fauna onto an ex-coalfield site in Wakefield. This work identified that the pond on the site was infested with invasive crayfish. The local Anglers Association who managed the site were keen to find a way to manage the invasive species and contribute to furthering understanding of this species (as well as others on the site) and so with OPAL staff they applied for a scientific trapping license from the Environment Agency. Another example is La Sainte Union Catholic School, which first used the OPAL Air Survey packs to study local air quality and lichens. The school then contacted the British Lichen Society (BLS) through OPAL and worked with them to develop a project that was awarded a partnership grant by the Royal Society to investigate the relationship between air quality and lichen distribution. Using diffusion tubes they measured levels of nitrogen dioxide as a means of validating the OPAL pollution index based on lichen indicator species employed by the OPAL Air Survey [49].

Project scale and duration

Revisiting Dickinson and Bonney [40] we look now at spatial and temporal scales and how they can vary between citizen science projects. Some projects may last just one field season (e.g. the Big Bumblebee Discovery [50]) whereas others have continued for decades (e.g. the Christmas Bird Count [51]); some may encourage citizens to examine their local area (e.g. the Hackney Wick Community Map [52] which allowed communities around Hackney Marsh, London to map a site less than 2 km2) while others provide platforms for citizen scientists to work across continents (e.g. iNaturalist [53]).

As part of the OPAL-UK programme, and following testing with local communities for cultural variation and the relevance of indicator species, the seven OPAL surveys were adapted and extended across the UK (including translation of materials into Welsh language) in 2015. However, before this funding was awarded data had already been received from these countries (nearly 800 sites had previously been surveyed). Furthermore OPAL survey data have been received from many other European countries and further afield. Not all survey methodology is transposable to these areas although some data may remain valid (e.g. physical or chemical conditions) and regardless of the research value, participants may receive educational and stewardship benefits. After almost 10 years in operation public participation in OPAL remains high. Efforts to sustain OPAL core activities are ongoing and remain challenging.

Types of research

Just as the research objectives underpinning citizen science activities can vary from hypothesis-led investigations (Conker Tree Science [54]) to pattern recognition exercises (Galaxy Zoo [55]); the approaches and types of scientific questions underpinning each of the OPAL surveys varied considerably.

Table 1 summarises the main type of research questions posed by the OPAL national surveys. These span the range of question types identified by Dickinson and Bonney [40]. For example, the OPAL Air Survey involved elements of hypothesis-led work, investigating whether fungi could be used as a bio-indicator of air pollution [56]. The study partly seeks to understand whether Tar spot fungus appears less frequently on sycamore trees in urban areas than in rural areas where air pollution levels and leaf litter management practices differ. Other studies used publicly collected data for validating computer model predictions: for instance, in the OPAL Climate Survey participants submitted observations of aircraft contrails which were then compared against model predictions of humidity levels at aircraft height [57]. The OPAL Bugs Count Survey placed more emphasis on monitoring species distribution change in urban and rural environments. In addition to scientific questions, environmental policy drivers directly shaped the design of surveys: the OPAL Soil and Earthworm Survey was developed in part to examine whether citizens could contribute data to support soil condition assessments and the OPAL Tree Health Survey supported official government monitoring of tree pests and diseases [58].

To ensure that the quality of data collected was of a usable standard, each OPAL survey was developed through a working group chaired by a scientific lead, supported by other scientists, representatives from natural history societies, government agencies, and other stakeholders. The process involved experts in graphic design, education, communication, web design, social science and public engagement. Drafts were regularly circulated to all OPAL staff for comments and tested with the community before final publication. Mechanisms to minimise error and to help validate records were introduced throughout the programme and ranged from collecting photographic evidence of observations from participants to online quizzes to determine the level of skill of the participant and weighting of data at the analysis stage [59, 60].

The development and delivery of citizen science does not occur in isolation from the social, political and economic conditions surrounding its goals of outreach and research. OPAL contained discrete supporting projects that did not necessarily constitute citizen science of themselves, but were considered to be essential to the processes of enabling citizen science. In response to the acknowledged ‘crisis’ caused by the then shortage of skilled taxonomists [25], OPAL sought to raise awareness and to increase the profile of natural history societies and conservation groups (voluntary sector) who play a critical role in biological recording and education. The OPAL programme included a dedicated funding scheme, led by the NHM, to help these groups to modernise, recruit new members and raise the profile of their societies with the public. Seventy organisations were awarded grants and a new web interface and database [61] was designed detailing their expertise and their contact details. Many of these organisations provided support to OPAL, particularly to the Community Scientists. At that time no natural history society existed dedicated to the study of earthworms, the biological element within the OPAL Soil and Earthworm Survey, so the Earthworm Society of Great Britain was established in 2009 through an OPAL grant. The society has the aims of (i) conducting research into earthworms; (ii) promoting knowledge and appreciation of earthworms within the non-scientific community; and (iii) educating the non-scientific community in earthworm biology and ecology. The organisation has now established the National Earthworm Recording Scheme and is in the process of developing distribution maps for the 27 species of earthworm; it has also run public events, provided identification training courses and has also developed its own citizen science survey (the Earthworm Compost Survey [62]), thereby continuing to support and foster the conditions for public participation in earthworm ecology research (personal communication, Kerry Calloway).

New software was developed to encourage and facilitate biological recording. The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) [63] manages the national database for biological records in the UK. Through OPAL funding, free, open-source biological recording software known as Indicia was developed [64] and is used by more than 80 societies in the UK and abroad. Indicia required a level of skill beyond that of most OPAL participants and so an easier to use version of Indicia known as Instant Indicia was developed, and also an implementation of Indicia known as iRecord [65], which was designed to allow any member of the public to create their own biological recording account and begin submitting observations of nature. Uptake of iRecord has been extremely positive, with the millionth record submitted in September 2015 [66].

Setting and achieving goals

Defining objectives and monitoring progress against them are important components of any CS programme and are the final classification of Dickinson and Bonney [40]. The OPAL Community Environment Report [67] prepared for the funding body and participants alike summarises OPAL’s achievements over the first 4 years of operation covering preliminary research findings, unexpected outcomes, lessons learned and tools and materials designed. All targets agreed with the funder at the outset of the original programme were achieved or exceeded (separate but related outcomes were agreed for the OPAL-UK programme to be delivered by the end of the programme in December 2016). Table 2 provides a summary of the programme’s delivery against its targets, updated since publication of the Community Environment Report, with data following completion of the first 6 year programme.
Table 2

OPAL original programme (2007-2013) impact data

Target impact

Delivered impact

1. Spending time outdoors, observing and recording

a. Engagement with 500,000 participants at field events

b. Engagement with 500,000 online visitors

a. >850,000 participants at field events (>20 % of regional project engagement with disadvantaged beneficiaries)

b. >540,000 visitors to the OPAL website;

>1.1 m visitors to iSpot;

>520,000 visitors to Indicia sites or iRecord

a. Data provided monthly by OPAL staff

b. Web generated data (NHM/ICL; OU; NBN)

2. Creating an educational programme

240,000 survey packs to be designed, printed and distributed

>275,000 survey packs designed printed and distributed;

c50,000 educational resources downloaded

Print run data (FSC) and distribution data (OPAL partners);

Web generated data (NHM/ICL)

3. Inspiring a new generation of environmentalists

a. Increasing access to natural history societies (membership at 10 societies increased by 10 %)

b. working with schools

a. 32 (46 %) of societies monitored >10 % increase in membership

b. working with 3100 schools

a. Data collected by NHM through monitoring associated with OPAL grants programme

b. Data provided monthly by OPAL staff

4. Supporting a greater understanding of the state of the environment

No numerical target

>30,000 field surveys submitted (>22,000 further observations of contrail observation sub-activity)

>20 research manuscripts citing OPAL methods, using OPAL data or supported by OPAL funding

OPAL website survey entries

5. Building stronger partnerships between voluntary, community and statutory sectors

a. Raising awareness through media engagement > 500,000

b. Engaging with community groups (no numerical target)

a. National coverage by >180 radio, TV and print media hits; >100 websites; total circulation figures exceeded 100 million

b. Working with >2400 organisations

a. Media cutting service managed by OPAL Communications Project (NHM)

b. Data provided monthly by OPAL staff

Below, we summarise further examples of impact across the goals for research and outreach. Looking at the interface between these goals, Lakeman-Fraser et al. [68] assimilate the quantitative and qualitative evaluation throughout the original 5 year programme drawing out trade-offs associated with multiple aim projects and identifying key considerations to tackle these challenges when planning and delivering a citizen science project.

Research outputs span environmental and social science fields [69]. Taking an ecological approach Rose et al. [59], for example, analysed the data collected from the OPAL Water Survey yielding a national assessment of water quality and clarity in England, whereas Gosling et al. [70] investigated the OPAL Biodiversity Survey finding that urban hedges as well as rural hedges can be important habitats for wildlife. A host of other manuscripts have been produced on the scientific outputs of the OPAL programme [56, 59, 60, 71] and the methodological considerations when monitoring data quality [57, 60, 72].

Exploring the societal impacts of citizen science Everett and Geoghegan [73], for example, investigated the motivations and barriers that people face initially engaging with a programme and maintaining enthusiasm for that programme. Other research into this area focused on people from socio-economically deprived backgrounds getting involved for the first time [74], issues that scientists are faced with when getting involved in citizen science [75, 76] and the education and behavioural impact of citizen science involvement [67].

Through OPAL more people have now engaged in activities related to environmental policy and sustainable development objectives (OPAL drivers), particularly with regard to Agenda 21 and the Convention on Biological Diversity (Articles 7,12,13) which promote monitoring, research, education and public awareness [77]. By working together scientists and the public have gathered a wealth of new data about wildlife, its distribution across England and the condition of their habitats. Some of these data are from sites that have previously been difficult for scientists to access such as gardens and inner city areas, allotments and playing fields.

The OPAL mantra is ‘Explore Nature’ and is all about encouraging people to get outside and learn about the environment on their doorstep. OPAL sought to engage all parts of society through a range of different approaches. For example, media coverage spanned national and local newspapers, television, radio, and online news sources: for example, the OPAL Soil and Earthworm Survey was reported on by, amongst others, the BBC One Show (estimated viewing figures of 4.8 million), BBC Radio 4 (estimated listening figures of 3.3 million), and the Daily Mail (estimated circulation figures of 2.2 million) [78].

Reflecting its funder’s mission to focus on “communities and people most in need” [29], particular effort was placed on engaging communities without a large tradition of participation in scientific research, such as those from deprived, low-social capital areas. Traditionally, such groups tend to have fewer cultural resources to fully participate in local environmental decision making, or the social capital to make their voices heard above those of the experts, compounded by a lower access to high level education. Evidence also suggests that groups from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend to live in areas of lower environmental quality (e.g. [79]) and therefore may have greater need to participate in environmental decision making. Citizen science therefore presents a powerful mechanism through which to raise awareness and engage local people in local issues.

Social data taken from the OPAL Community Environment Report [67] indicate that: Half of all participants submitting survey data to the website (8450 from a sample of 16,766 people) state that this was the first time they had carried out a survey; just eight percent (695 from a sample of 9261) said they would not carry out another survey; almost half (43 %) of people interviewed (254 from a sample of 593) said taking part had changed the way they thought about the environment; more than a third of this groups (37 %) said they would change their behaviour towards it; 90 % of participants (13,142 from a sample of 14,621) said they had learnt something new; 83 % of these respondents said they had developed new skills. Approximately 20 % of engagement delivered by OPAL Community Scientists has been with individuals who classify as deprived or in some way hard-to-reach.

A wide range of materials have been developed across all topics for all ages and abilities and are stored on the OPAL website. They are widely used by schools, universities and other educational organisations such as the British Science Association. OPAL has worked with >3100 educational establishments (54 % secondary schools; 43 % primary schools; 2 % universities; and 1 % special schools) and school children contributed survey data relating to c15,000 sites (50 % total submissions). 10 % of the primary schools involved were located in the most deprived 10 % of England (6 % of survey results came from these areas). iSpot continues to be widely used and has been incorporated within the Open University’s OpenScience Laboratory initiative that seeks to make practical science available to any student with a connection to the internet [80].

Contributing to a national research programme was a key motivating factor for many participants. OPAL’s high quality science programme was said to give confidence to both teachers and students to carry out more fieldwork. Unplanned positive impacts on health and well-being were reported by many group leaders and participants during the programme. The high level of interest from schools was another unexpected outcome with many citing the outdoor learning programme and the opportunity for pupils to contribute to real research and to work with scientists as important factors.

The OPAL programme provides an encompassing case study that spans a range of approaches within the citizen science landscape. OPAL can be viewed retrospectively as contributing to the democratic ideal of participatory decision-making argued for by Irwin, Wynne and others, through facilitating participatory knowledge production. At the same time, following the ideas of Bonney and his colleagues, OPAL activities also deliver against more explicitly formulated science and education goals.

In the broadest sense, although conceived ahead of the recent upsurge of interest in the classification of citizen science, OPAL does closely follow the key design steps identified by Dickinson and Bonney [40] who proposed the following topics for consideration: choosing a scientific question; forming a project team; developing and refining project materials; recruiting and training participants; accepting, editing and displaying data; analysing and interpreting data, disseminating results, measuring impacts. Whereas in OPAL to date, the research questions and analysis of results have been almost exclusively the province of professional scientists, the national survey series was explicitly designed to engage the widest possible audience in data gathering.

Despite the manifold faces of citizen science, the ever evolving discipline unites academics, educators, community members and policy makers and delivers a raft of benefits for both research and outreach. As we have seen, the approach taken when establishing, designing and delivering citizen science projects can be diverse and deliver a host of different outcomes.This field is evolving rapidly, driven by new technology and experience gained from professional scientists and the public alike as they participate in and contribute to our understanding of CS through projects such as OPAL.

Air Pollution Research in London

citizen science

Field Studies Council

Global Positioning System

Imperial College London

National Biodiversity Network

Natural History Museum

Open Air Laboratories

Open University

Authors’ contributions

LD developed the concept and directed the OPAL programme from 2005 to 2013. She prepared the first draft covering these aspects of the paper. RF contributed to all aspects of the paper and drafted the sections on new technologies and data. PLF is responsible for new developments in CS and their relevance to OPAL. HR developed the section on the public understanding of science and the discussion on CS. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

We would like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for financing this research through the OPAL and OPAL-UK programme grants , Defra for supporting the publication of this paper, Dr. D. Slawson (OPAL-UK), who has provided guidance throughout the development of this manuscript and Laurence Evans for provision of summary statistics and maps. Lastly, we are grateful to the OPAL participants, without whom this citizen science programme would not be possible.

Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network, (England, 2007-2013) Led by Imperial College London, Dr. L. Davies (Director) involving nine regional partners: University of Central Lancashire, Dr. M. Toogood, (North West region); Newcastle University, Dr. A. Borland (North East region); University of York, Professor M. Ashmore (Yorkshire and Humber region); University of Nottingham, Dr. P. Crittenden (East Midlands region); University of Birmingham, Dr. J. Sadler (West Midlands region); University of Hertfordshire, Dr. M. Burton (East of England region); Imperial College London, Professor R. Toumi, (London region); Imperial College London, Dr. S. Power, (South East region); Plymouth University, Dr. M. Donkin (South West region): Research and education centres: Imperial College London, Dr. N. Voulvoulis (Soil); Imperial College London, Dr. S. Power (Air); University College London, Dr. N. Rose (Water); Open University, Professor J. Silvertown (Biodiversity) Natural History Museum, Dr. G. Stevens and Dr. J. Tweddle (Biodiversity) and Meteorological Office, Dr. G. Jenkins (Climate). Essential support services: Natural History Museum, Dr. G. Stevens and Dr. J. Tweddle; National Biodiversity Network, Dr. J. Munford; Royal Parks, Dr. N. Reeve and T. Assarati; Field Studies Council, Dr. R. Farley and Dr. S. Tilling.

OPAL-UK (United Kingdom, 2014-current) Imperial College London, Dr. D. Slawson (Director), involving twelve partners across the United Kingdom: The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), K. Riddell and D. Hall (Scotland); University of Aberdeen, Professor R. van der Wal (Scotland); Glasgow City of Science (Glasgow Science Centre), Dr. S. Breslin and Professor T. Howe (Scotland); Field Studies Council, Dr. S. Tilling, D. Moncrieff and N. Elliot (Scotland and Northern Ireland); Queens University Belfast, Dr. K. Kerr (Northern Ireland); Cofnod, R. Tapping (Wales); North Wales Wildlife Trust, F. Cattanach and N. Hâf Jones (Wales); National Museum of Wales, Dr. R. Bevins and Dr. M. Wilson (Wales); Newcastle University, Dr. A. Borland (England); University of York, Professor M. Ashmore (England); University of Nottingham, Dr. P. Crittenden and Dr. S. Goodacre (England); Plymouth University, Dr. M. Donkin (England).

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

This article has been published as part of BMC Ecology Volume 16 Supplement 1, 2016: Citizen science through the OPAL lens. The full contents of the supplement are available online at Publication of this supplement was supported by Defra.

Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Authors’ Affiliations

Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, UK
Department of Social Sciences, Media and Communications, Brunel University, London, UK

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9:30 P.M. Two Drinks In, At A 3-Star Hotel Bar On Michigan Ave

No thanks.

I like my vice with a modicum of verisimilitude
and rude it may be, but I ain’t sharin’
and it’s not what you’re wearin,’ and I swear,
swearin’ ain’t gonna be helpful.

It’s actually a conversation, you see.
And yes, talk may be cheap, but physicality,

And a peep at your vocabulary suggests a
voluntary nature, but I can lip read past
the lip gloss, that a made-up make-up foreshadows
a heel to fervency … and all the urgency that follows.

And I’ve forced marched through that tumble,
rumble, and jungle before. Often, and a generation ago

But if I hang on, and you wise up, and the spirit is
still willing, beneath your mask lays your true measure,
and I’ve no doubt, it will be absolutely thrilling.

Excuse me, it’s been a pleasure.

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I’m spry yet retired. I reside in the inner city of a major metropolitan area of the United States. I read politics. I watch baseball. I hum along with the tune. I June swoon, and moon the bad poem. Post here, are old and new. Opinions are my very own, except when wrong.

2 thoughts on “9:30 P.M. Two Drinks In, At A 3-Star Hotel Bar On Michigan Ave”

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text:
Sunpan Mercer Ottoman

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text:
Author : K. Clarke

One could’ve happened by accident. When the first one appeared, I was eating cereal. His machine had plowed across half the basement and stopped against the wall, nested in the remains of the treadmill and the dryer and most of the plumbing. It looked like a submarine and it was way too big to have gotten in by the door, even in parts. Standing in the middle of the floor, the pile of twisted metal behind him and me at the top of the stairs in boxers and wrinkled socks, pointing a milky spoon at him –I guess in that situation it’s hard to come up with a good lie, and he just admitted he was a time traveler. His name is Tim.

Two could have been random chance. Harrelson arrived two days later, in the backyard. His machine was more advanced and a bit smaller, and only took out a ten foot gouge out of my lawn.

Even three might have been coincidence. Or, actually, four. Sonya and Peter showed up in the living room with a handheld machine and didn’t destroy anything at all. They were wearing matching silver jumpsuits though.

The next day it was Gehris, then Jacob, and Terry the day after that. And Kevin and Dr. Morris and the one whose name I forgot, and Dewey and another Peter and all the ones that came after I stopped even asking their names. They must have some special way of recognizing their own kind, because they go out and bring back even more time travelers. I can’t have friends over anymore because of all the future people camped out in my house. There’s one upstairs who says his name is AoooOooOOooooOoo who won’t even get out of the bathtub. They laugh at how primitive the widescreen I just spent $700 on is and give huge complicated explanations I can’t understand when I ask them questions, and I know they’re doing it on purpose because they talk with a lot smaller words when they think I’m not around.

Well maybe I’m not a genius time-travelling scientist, but I’m not an idiot. Tim says my house is a lab when he’s from, and Dr. Morris told me there’s a power plant next door all convenient for him. Jacob has a factory in his time. AoooOooOOooooOoo says the house built here in 500 years is a very nice shade of green. Probably they’re all telling the truth. There’s a lot of time in the future for stuff to happen in, and I’m not surprised if some of it happens here. But one month is not a lot of time for fifty time travelers to all end up in. Even if none of them will own up to it, they know something.

They all came to now for a reason. Something’s about to happen. Something big.

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Author : Jae Miles, Staff Writer

“Papa Six, touchdown.”

Inside the wall, the grounds are laid out formally, in concentric rings. Each ring of growth is separated from the next by a ring of lawn. Big trees, then little trees with flowers on, then brambles and blackthorn, then shrubs and roses, and so on down to the neat plots of daisies growing around the various ponds and swimming pools that ring the house.

“Team Papa, strike clockwise.”

That includes me. Team Baby will be going the other way. Much as we don’t want it to, the densely planted foliage restricts us to the paths if we want to remain quiet. The only good thing is that attack fauna, even xenoforms, would also be hindered by having to thrash their way through the plant life.

“Movement. West balcony. Baby Three, put ‘em to sleep.”

The house is a sprawling affair, like someone wanted a mansion but refused to go higher than a bungalow. Its owner is a collector of rare gems. While the centrepieces of the collection are secured by methods only a fool would challenge, the ‘lesser’ items are scattered about the place as ornaments. We’re after a selection from for the guest quarters, as they lie nearest the wall.

“Baby Three. Respond.”

That call freezes us. I see my fellow shadowy figures crouch low, so I slip up onto the plinth of a big gargoyle statue, then lie along its back, peering over its misshapen head.

“Baby Four? Damn. Team Baby, sound off.”

Something has gone badly wrong. Team Baby are the true veterans in our little foray. That something took them out without a sound gives me chills.

I’m contemplating what could have gone wrong when I see Papa Four slump sideways. As he does so, something skitters out of the way of his body. I run the magnification up on my goggles and a perfectly grass-patterned dinosaur looms into view. Suppressing a squeak of surprise, I zoom out and engage the fauna identifier on my tactical ‘puter.

It’s a Hashichura. Or Hashichuras, as they never come in pack sizes of less than a dozen. Natives of Corbellyon, they resemble the monitor lizards of Earth, but are the reason why their planet is a tropical paradise where humans still sleep under domes. Nocturnal, semi-sentient and possessing a bite that is poisonous, in varying degrees, to pretty much everything. Even Hashichuras are not immune to their own venom, reserving it for when they think lethal force is needed: mating duels, defending territories, etcetera. These gardens are obviously their territory. Which means I’m the sole survivor of the nastiest security system I’ve ever encountered.

They lair at dawn. My escape depends on the time between their leaving the ground behind me and the last of them making it home, allowing the daytime guard systems to activate.

I spend a bitter night on a cold statue, watching for signs of camouflaged predators in the long grass. As predawn lightens the sky, I see several ripples of movement, all heading away.

No time to calculate. I slide off the statue and sprint for the wall. I manage to leap two rings of flora, but have to use the path through the rings of trees. The last lawn I sprint across, using the speed to help my depleted jump rig get me over the wall.

Clearing the wall with millimetres to spare, I drop onto the roof of the fake security van. Moments later, I’m heading for a trip offworld. There are too many bodies back there with links to me.

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Is this playlist safe for work?

Isolation: A Dirk Strider Fanmix

I put these songs together with Dirk’s years alone on Earth in mind. Track 5 is something I can imagine him singing to Roxy, and it's also my headcanon voice for him. The last track relates more to his dream self on Derse, with its tall spires and inherent danger.

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Cover art by Tumblr user tweedvest:

8 tracks
8 comments on Isolation: A Dirk Strider Fanmix

I've been inexplicably isolated for at least 12 years of my life and I can tell you that this fits very well with that sensation and is eerily accurate.

I'm just gonna pair with Rainymood for a great longing effect.

Grade A perf. Will listen to again and again and again.

This is so fucking awesome I can't even form words. It's so lonely, longing. Fits Dirk perfectly. Keep up the great work!


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Own An M240? There Is A New Leica In Town

Image credit   Earlier this year Leica announced the first truly new M series rangefinder camera in four years.  The M10.  Whilst there were only limited quantities available it has already been making waves in the industry.  So let’s take a little look at the brand and what this stunning new camera can do.   Leica is a german company which is the namesake of four independent companies.   Leica Microsystems, Leica Biosystems, Leica Geosystems and Leica Camera which is a manufacturer of digital and and analog cameras, designed for both the professional and amateur photographer. Back in 1913 Oskar […]

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GoPro Hero 5 finally available in India

GoPro Hero 5 Black

GoPro today announced finally they are started to sell their latest line-up of action camera in India. GoPro Hero 5 one of the best upgrades to GoPro old model GoPro Hero 4 you could buy today. Where to buy? Creative Peripherals will be distributing the GoPro Hero 5 And Hero 5 session our various leading e-commerce sites like flipkart as well on offline stores like Reliance digital. The products will also be available in brick-and-mortar stores by Stereovision.   What’s Best about new line-up ? With the new line up of GoPro family, they bring GoPro Plus, a cloud-based subscription service that […]

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Ricoh India Launches Ricoh Theta SC 360 Degree Camera

Ricoh Theta SC

Ricoh India, which is the leader in Imaging Solution and IT services, Unveils a brand new product named Ricoh Theta SC. It’s a 360 Degree shooter camera. 2016 is the year where lots of manufacturers came with a 360 camera. It has two 180-degree camera lens at both sides of the panel and Image is stitched via camera software making it a 360-degree image. The dimension of the launched product is  45.2mm (W) x 130.6mm (H) x 22.9mm (17.9 mm *6) and weighs approximately 102gms. The size wise makes it small and portable enough to fit in the pocket. Also, […]

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Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Zoom Lens Review – The Best Alternative

Tamron 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Zoom Lens

Tamron an alternative camera Lens maker other than Nikon and Canon. We did earlier see Sigma Lens, Also was impressed well. It was well built and premium lens. So we are here to have a complete in-depth review of it. Well I am ain’t a professional photographer but I do shoot product videos and occasional event photographer, sometimes I love to shoot candid shots as well. For the Candid shots, a zoom lens is a must and Tamron 18-200mm is what you must check out. Earlier we also reviewed Sigma 18-300mm do check that out too. Build of Tamron 18-200mm Review […]

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[Review]Is the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM The best Prime Lens ?

Sigma 50 mm F1.4 DG HSM Lens

Sigma had been one of favorite lens maker of mine other than the Nikon and Canon. Sigma does make a completely different lens. Well 50 mm lens or prime lens which has one fixed focal length, you want to zoom in and zoom out then you got move your legs rather adjusting the lens. Also, the prime lens delivers the best possible sharpness and contrast. 50mm lens is my sweet spot and I love to shoot with it, also at the same time they are super cheap. I didn’t use any good quality prime lens until sigma sent me one […]

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Our Story

    Absolution Apparel Co. was officially launched  in July of 2015. Josh Parsley and Michael Jones the founders had a simple idea with a vision to design and create high quality items. Josh which actually has a background in business and graphic design. Josh grew up mostly in Maryland his whole life. He attended many schools throughout his childhood. Josh did then finish out school in Pennsylvania. Again he did go off to college and had a passion for graphic design and for business school. He never did graduate though. Something just didn't feel right it just didnt have the same vision as Josh was expecting. College might be for some people but Josh knew the answers he wanted wasn't there. So he found himself more and more brainstorming about taking what he knew with graphic design and putting to use in the clothing industry.
    Mike also grew up in Maryland. With his parents being from the west indies, he always saw how hard his parents worked to make it the U.S. He understood that he needed more than just the average life for him and his family. After a tough childhood, he realized that there had to be more to life than just working everyday. With no formal training, Mike relies on his creative, sometimes out there sense of fashion and style. With a love for sneaker collecting as well as his west indian backround, Mike incorporates it all to create unique pieces to push Absolution Apparel forward.
    Absolution Apparel Co. wasn't created with any formal business plan. Josh and Michael both had fairly little or if any background in the clothing/fashion business. Rather then following the things he learned in school. He went against the grain and applied his common sense and just did research and more research and guess what yes more research. Josh always found the best way he learned was by doing anyway. Trial and error has played a part in our brand many of times. As a company we never rush anything design wise just to please the masses. We only want to produce high quality items that we would wear ourselves. Call it OCD or whatever you'd like but we never produce an item until we are a hundred percent satisfied.
   Absolution Apparel as of right now is a family affair. Most likely always will be. Josh has stated over time and time again he will always want something to do with every aspect of the business. The company is like a child. You will watch over everything the company does and guide it through life. Protect it, cherish it and be proud at its greatest accomplishments. So if its to the photography, packaging, designing you name it. It all came from him somehow. Also Joshuas wife handles all the customer service and social media as well. So trully will always be a family business.
    Absolution Apparel draws inspiration from our own lives and street culture from around the world. We want to develop products for a generation in need of exposing a new means of expressing themselves. Our brand is all about motivating the individual and speaking to them deep down by relating hopefully to there own lives. We knew from the start our quality for our products was something we wanted to make us stick out from the rest of brands out there. Highest quality is all you will ever get from Absolution Apparel Co. This could be to your super soft t-shirt, and to your hhno feel print on the shirt. Maybe it could be just to the unexpected goodies with your package. Our brand had to be anything short of perfect. Before creating the brand, one thing in our lives that we wanted to be express would be to have no more regrets. Absolution apparel is located right outside of York Pennsylvania. For two guys that have a vision for top quality, great designs , and a lot of attention to detail we give you Absolution Apparel Co. Hope you enjoy the brand. Thanks again for checking us out. Any questions please ask on our contact page.
Head back over to the Shop

    Search our store


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MobiTV launches Connect Platform

MobiTV, a global player in live and on-demand video delivery solutions, has announced the MobiTV Connect Platform, an IP video delivery solution which allows cable operators to significantly upgrade their user experience and utilise the connected TV devices and streaming boxes already in a large majority of US homes.

“The in-home TV experience is changing rapidly, creating both challenges and opportunities for providers as they navigate the new reality of delivering pay-TV services in today’s market,” said Charlie Nooney, CEO of MobiTV. “This is only the beginning for us. We continue to break barriers and utilise our long history in the video delivery space to help more companies future-proof their offerings through our ever-evolving, agile solutions within the video delivery ecosystem.”

Through MobiTV, pay-TV companies are able to quickly upgrade their network’s video delivery from traditional QAM to IP and seamlessly blend on-demand, live TV, catch-up TV, network DVR and recommendations.

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RCC-CW 2016

RCC-CW 2016

Rules for design and construction of PWR nuclear civil works

Subscription : Individual license & personal - latest version + new publication(s) to be published during the 12 months of subscription + directly previous versions - PDF French and English downloadable then accessible in unlimited duration - Possibly associated technical publications available

Paper book : Without CD-ROM - Delivery within 10 days by UPS

Publications pricelist

Purpose and scope

RCC-CW describes the rules for designing, building and testing civil engineering works in PWR reactors.

It explains the principles and requirements for the safety, serviceability and durability of concrete and metal frame structures, based on Eurocode design principles (European standards for the structural design of construction works) combined with specific measures for safety-class buildings.

The code is produced as part of the RCC-CW Subcommittee, which includes all the parties involved in civil engineering works in the nuclear sector: clients, contractors, general and specialized firms, consultancies and inspection offices.

The code covers the following areas relating to the design and construction of civil engineering works that play an important safety role:

  • geotechnical aspects;
  • reinforced concrete structures and galleries;
  • prestressed containments with metal liner;
  • metal containment and pool liners;
  • metal frames;
  • anchors;
  • concrete cylinder pipes;
  • containment leak tests.

The RCC-CW code is available as an ETC-C version specifically for EPR projects (European pressurized reactor).

Edition available as of January 2018

Edition ETC-C 2010 and 2012

ETC-C 2010, first edition published by AFCEN has been used for the Generic Design Assessment of EPR in UK.

ETC-C 2012 integrates the feedback of Flamanville 3 and of the Generic Design Assessment.

Edition: RCC-CW 2015

Publication of the RCC-CW 2015 code early 2015 is the first edition that AFCEN has prepared and published of a generic civil engineering code that does not relate to any specific project.

It takes account of the latest changes in European standards.

It includes technological possibilities and improvements:

  • bonded prestressing has been supplemented with unbonded prestressing;
  • the code covers the design and development of seismic isolation devices;
  • the section on external hazards has been updated to include tornadoes.

The design approach has been expanded to provide greater focus on the design extension situations in the complementary field.

Edition: RCC-CW 2016

In addition, the following improvements have been incorporated in RCC-CW 2016:

  • correction of editorial mistakes, including those published as Errata 2016 of RCC-CW 2015;
  • significant evolution of DANCH chapter to implement the new release of EN 1992-4.

Edition: RCC-CW 2017

The RCC-CW 2017 Edition includes the following improvements:

  • Rules for anchor channels and active channels have been incorporated in chapters DANCH and CANCH;
  • Chapter CCONC has been completely reworked to better fit to EN 13670 and to refer to last updated of EN 206. By the way, chapter CFNSH has been completely resorbed in CCONC.
  • Chapter CCONC has been completely reworked to better fit to EN 13670 and to refer to last update of EN 206. By the way, chapter CFNSH has been completely resorbed in CCONC.
  • A new chapter CCOAT for coatings and paints has been created;
  • Actions to be considered in design extension hazard have been modified (chapter DGENR);
  • Requirements for seismic soil column calculations have been included (appendix DA).

Publications included in the paper book single purchase

  • RCC-CW 2016 - EN

Publications included in the subscription

  • RCC-CW 2016 - EN
  • RCC-CW 2016 - FR
  • RCC-CW 2015 with errata 2016 - EN
  • RCC-CW 2015 avec errata 2016 - FR
  • PTAN (RCC-CW) - EN
  • PTAN (RCC-CW) - FR


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Wear Sunscreen

April 17, 2008

 1. Do not interfere with others’ business

 Most of us create our own problems by interfering  too often in others’  affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic, and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and

steered to the right direction, our direction.

 2. Forget and forgive

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind.   We  often nurture ill feeling inside our heart for the person who insults or harms us. We  forget that the insult or injury was done to us once but by nourishing the grievance we go on excavating the wound forever.   Therefore it is essential that we cultivate the art of forgiving and forgetting.

3. Do not crave for recognition

This world is full of selfish people.  They seldom praise anybody without selfish motive. They may praise you today because you are rich and have power but no sooner you are powerless, they  will forget your achievement and start criticizing you.

4. Do not be jealous

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know you work harder than your colleagues in the  office but they get promotions, you do not. You started a business several years ago but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old.  Should you be jealous?

5. Change yourself according to the environment

If you try to change the environment single  handedly, the chances are you may fail. Instead, change yourself to suit the environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has remained  unfriendly for you, will mysteriously appear to be congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure what cannot be cured

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an  advantage. Everyday we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations and accidents that are beyond our control. We must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, ‘God will it so, so be it’.   God’s logic is beyond our comprehension. Believe it and you will gain in patience, in inner

strength, in will power.
7. Do not bite more than you can chew
 This maxim should be always remembered.  We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable to carry out.   This is done to satisfy our ego.  Know your limitations.

8. Pray regularly

Prayer brings you closer to God. Drawing closer,  trusting in God, brings peace of mind. Try and experience it.  If you pray earnestly everyday, your mind will tend to relax and you will be calm during the day. Your mind will not be disturbed as much as before.  This will  increase your efficiency and you will turn out more work in less  time… with less stress.

 9. Never leave the mind vacant

An empty mind is devil’s workshop.  All evil deeds start in the mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. You must decide what you value more – money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment  and achievement. Even if you are resting physically, occupy yourself.

10. Do not procrastinate and never regret

Do not waste time in wondering ‘what if?’ or ‘should  I?’ or ‘shouldn’t  I?’  Days, weeks, months and years may be wasted in that futile mental  debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate  all future happenings.  Always remember God has His own plan too.  Value  your time and do things. It does not matter if you

fail the first time. You can rectify your mistakes and succeed the next time.  Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes but  do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET!>


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Thermal Hair Care – Hot Head Deep Conditioning Cap

Almost 3 years ago I did a review of the Hot Head Deep Conditioning Cap Here. This is one product I use EVERY single washday, without fail. I swear by this product!

The hot head deep conditioning cap is a microwaveable cap that is filled with flax seeds that are warmed to provide heat for deep conditioning. Genius!

Once you apply your deep conditioner, you put on a plastic deep conditioning cap, then your Hot Head Deep Conditioning Cap.

I love deep conditioning without having to sit under a dryer or being confined to one location. The truth is, I can take a nap while deep conditioning! LOL. They are very durable. I’ve had one for 3 years now and it’s still in pretty good condition. Definitely a good investment!

I recently found out from the company that they changed the design to provide complete flax seed coverage throughout the cap for better heat distribution.

Here’s the old version with the flower/sun stitch pattern.

Here’s the new version.

There’s more coverage around the perimeter (the hairline). An awesome product was made even better!

I also received this Dark Coconut Spritzer. It’s a spray that goes directly onto the cap before microwaving. It smells soooooo good. It’s like an aromatherapy session every time I deep condition. It also helps the flax seeds to maintain their heat producing  capabilities longer. There’s other delicious scents to choose from.

This is something you NEEEEED to add to your wash day regimen! Thank me later.

You can purchase yours here…  Thermal Hair Care


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A Story Of A Bird Named Usraft – A Story By Ahmad Ali Karim

It was a very cold, dark, rainy night. A blue bird was flying home in the heavy rain. With its wings all wet and it’s talons injured, the blue bird flew very low over a hedge.

As it was struggling to fly against the cold, strong wind, a red car drove past the hedge, running over a big puddle by the roadside.

“SPLOSH!” a big splash of water hit the poor blue bird and knocked it to the ground.

The car stopped by the roadside and a man named Ahmad came out of the car. He walked over and picked up the injured bird. He carried the poor bird to his car and he quickly drove home.

As soon as Ahmad reached his house, he laid a clean towel on his dinning table and gently, he dried the poor, cold bird. Ahmad took out a roll of bandage and bandaged the bird’s two injured talons. Then, he fed the hungry bird before putting it in a small bird-cage.

Early the next morning, Ahmad went to the kitchen to have his breakfast. He was greeted by his three cats, Kalarta, Stripsla and Visla.

“Hi! Good morning,” said Ahmad cheerfully to his cats before he prepared his breakfast. He remembered the blue bird and walked over to the cage where the injured blue bird was sleeping. Suddenly he remembered the birdseed that he had bought the week before. He took out the birdseed and fed the bird before washing his hands and ate his breakfast.

After breakfast, Ahmad walked over to the bird’s cage followed by his cats.

“Hello, Usraft,” said Ahmad to the blue bird. Ahmad opened the cage door and let the bird flew around the house. The blue bird was very happy to be out of the cage but it was hard for it to perch as it’s talons were injured.

Ahmad put the bird back in its cage and went back to his dinning table. He took out his laptop to search more information about bird’s talons. Then he searched on how to heal an injured bird talon. He found what he was looking for and he started reading about it. Then he followed the instructions and treated Usraft.

After a week, Ahmad unwrapped the bandage to see if Usraft’s talons were healed. And they did! Ahmad was happy and so was Usraft. Ahmad took Usraft out to the garden and let the bird flew freely outside. The blue bird flew happily around the garden. Then it flew back to where Ahmad was standing and perched on Ahmad’s shoulder.

“Good boy,” said Ahmad to the blue bird. He took it inside and put a red tag around Usraft’s right ankle to mark that it is Usraft. Then Ahmad took Usraft back to the garden to set it free.

“So long, my friend, until we meet again. I won’t forget you!” said Ahmad sadly before setting the bird free. Ahmad was quite sad to free the blue bird, but he knew that it was the right thing to do.

A day later, as Ahmad was gardening in his garden, a car stopped in front of his house as if its tire was punctured. Ahmad walked to the car to see if  he could help the driver. But instead of a punctured tire, he saw a blue bird lying motionless on the car’s bonnet. And then he saw the red tag around its ankle.

It was Usraft! The poor blue bird might had flown to his house to visit him when he collided with the car. Ahmad took up the bird gently but there was nothing that he could do to help Usraft. Ahmad was very sad to see his very first bird friend killed in an accident but he knew that nothing can live forever.

The end

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Under the miniscule prism

Computers and Internet

Windows 10 Anniversary Update Freezing and Stop Errors

Microsoft has recently released the next version of Windows 10, dubbed as Anniversary Update it has a slew of features that make it more efficient and appealing to Users with its new features. I will not be enumerating any of the new features since this is not a review of Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, instead this is more of how to resolve errors that is plaguing users that updated. If you want to see the new features of version 1607 or the Anniversary Update here’s a site that you may want to go to: How-To-Geek: Windows 10 Anniversary Update

I was compelled to write this post due to the fact that I had a first hand experience on my system that went through the update. Soon after and for the next four days of that , I had to resolve the issue one by one with little to none of any online resource that can figure out what was going on. Going through Safemode was the only thing that can save you from the freezing and BSODs. So was it a driver? Is it a Windows Component? Or was it something else? Honestly, it was a combination of sorts.

Windows XP: End of Days

If you still don’t know, Microsoft has announced the end of the Life Cycle support for Windows XP since 2010. Some may not like it and still hold on to an obsolete Operating System that will never again get patched after April 14, 2014. I wouldn’t want to get into the nitty-gritty  side of updating to the newer Operating System and still I wonder why there’s so much hate about 8.1. Personally, it’s an absolutely great Operating System and like anything new it takes a lot of getting used to. But once you get to use it more, the experience wouldn’t be like any previous versions of Windows.

One notable thing I could say about 8.1 is the Bluetooth support which was seamless on any devices I had, contrary to being horrible since XP to 8.

I grew up with XP and I had some doubts to letting it go but since Microsoft ushered 7, my fancy got stuck with it. It’s hard to really see it go, but as all things become old so do we move on to something newer which has the better features from Security to UI Experience.

Windows 8.1 Upgrade: Brightness and Auto-Dim issues on a Notebook PC*

*Difficulty Level: Advanced Users

If you performed an upgrade installation from Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Preview most likely that’s the reason you are reading this post now. Apparently, there has been numerous accounts on Intel GFX issues with AMD’s Hybrid GFX drivers for Notebooks and Laptops that the Screen Brightness got stuck at a High or Low Setting without any ability to adjust or toggle the slider using both the Management Function (Fn) keys or from the Display Settings of Windows.

Techie Note: The steps that I will provide in this post requires that you are able to navigate and understand what Display Drivers are and the Registry. If you have a faint heart I do not recommend that you continue and rather stop right here and seek for assistance with your Notebook’s Manufacturer or continue with a Clean Installation of Windows and download all drivers from their OEM support site.


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News and Notes: Davis Love III Junior Open

Posted on Updated on

By Debbie Lee, AJGA Communications

If not
known for the aesthetical beauty of St. Simons Island, Ga., the island’s
historical distinctions justifies why it is the gem of the Georgia’s coastline.
Sea Island, formerly known as Glynn Isle was originally a fishing ground for
Native Americans. It was founder Howard Coffin, who began the island’s
transformation towards charm and seclusion. Howard Coffin was a persistent
businessman, he purchased Sea Island, land on St. Simons Island, including Sea
Island cotton plantation, which today is the location of Sea Island Golf Club.
To this day Sea Island has upholds the reputation of commitment to excellence
and continuous luxurious hospitality.

Scottish Tradition: One unusual yet admirable aspect of the Sea Island Golf Club was the entertainment that occurred every night at exactly 7 pm.  A bagpiper would perform a series of songs on No. 10 fairway as members and visitors of the golf club listened on the patio. The thought to have a bagpiper every evening rose to pay respect and recognize the club’s Scottish traditions.

“Wickersticks”: A recognizable feature of Sea Island
Golf Club’s practice putting green was it’s mini wicker baskets that topped
each pin. These easily came to attention because of its heavy exposure during
the 2013 U.S. Open where Merion Golf Club also adorned and marked their green
with wicker baskets. Although the history of the “wickersticks” is a bit of a
mystery they add a different flair to the practice putting green at Sea Island
Golf Club.

Team 1 meets Davis Love III: It was an absolute pleasure to have Davis Love III
attend his own tournament’s award ceremony and to congratulate the champions.
To be able to see Matt Cheng Taipei,
Taiwan, and Sammi Lee of Winter Park, Fla., the tournament’s champions
shake hands and their hard work to be recognized by Davis Love III was surreal.
Team 1 was also given the opportunity to meet Davis Love III and share a moment
altogether on No. 10 fairway for a group photo.