Miss Janice Ansine

Professional biography

Over the years through my research interests I have contributed knowledge exploring the use and impact of blended approaches i.e. online tools communications, multimedia, etc.; implemented alongside informal and formal learning (Ansine, 2013). I have contributed to OU research in crowdsourcing biological identification in citizen science (Silvertown et al, 2015), technology enhanced learning and teaching focused on the use of mobile technology in citizen science to facilitate practical STEM learning (Woods et al, 2017). I lead research on how online citizen science supports teaching and learning, identifying a five-step framework from participation to recognised learning actions: explore, identify, contribute, personalise and recognition (Ansine et al 2017). I also contribute to evolving areas in citizen science  practice and research i.e. citizen science and artificial intelligence: https://citsci.kmi.open.ac.uk . At the OU I also share citizen science best practice a member of research groups: i.e. Open Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) and Citizen Inquiry and Ecosystem Science.

My research experience includes environmental change and ecological footprinting, biodiversity communications, sustainable development and science communications. This is built on earlier work as an environment newspaper reporter iand Reuter Fellow researching the ecological impacts of Jamaica’s tourism in Jamaica  (MSc, Oxford, 2000). I explored biodiversity and human development themes and led a communications campaign and strategic project (including a series of posters and fact sheets) complementing UNEP WCMC work on the Convention on Biological Diversity as a Chevening Scholar and Visiting Research (Cambridge, 2003). As a British Council Darwin Now Awardee (2009) I implemented a research project focused on public outreach and engagement on biodiversity and Charles Darwin’s legacy expressed through Jamaican arts and culture.

I also explore relationships between citizen science and science communication analysing initiatives that use a combination of tools for engagement, public participation and understanding of science and building on this contributed to a successful initiative connecting young people with researchers in a school-university partnership initiative (Holliman, 2018). All of these These interests shape my ongoing research investigating participation in citizen observatories and online communities of practice, while contributing ideas and developing engagement approaches for a range of citizen science initiatives.

I am interested in research around citizen science and learning (including arts-based engagement and culture). As well as public involvement and engagement with science and nature supported by blended approaches incorporating online tools, multimedia, engagement, citizen science, informal and formal learning around biodiversity. While working, I am pursuing my Doctorate in Education (EdD) with the Centre for Research in Education and Educational Technology (CREET), at the OU, in the area of Technology Enhanced Learning. My current research topic focuses on Exploring Citizen Science Learning Journeys: a case study of iSpotnature.org.

See more research publications in Open Research Online here:https://oro.open.ac.uk/view/person/ja4865.html.

I contribute to citizen science teaching and informal learning, for example I am co-author of Citizen Science & Global Biodiversity, an OU OpenLearn Badged Open Course: www.open.ac.uk/citizen-science-and-global-biodiversity.

As an experienced citizen science practitioner and researcher, I collaborate, codesign, co-create and share my expertise nationally and internationally. I coordinate iSpot’s involvement in national policy investigations in biodiversity (e.g. pollination monitoring and the State of Nature Report). I am a founding member of the UK Tree Health Citizen Science Network (THCSN) and contribute to knowledge exchange. I was a contributor to the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) 10 principles of citizen science (Robinson, et al, 2018) and currently chair the Sharing Best Practices and Capacity Building Working Group.

 I share my skills and expertise sitting on various research project steering group / committees e.g. I sit on the project advisory board of REINFORCE: Research Infrastructures FOR Citizens in Europe project (www.reinforceeu.eu/ and was also a member of the Citizen Science Cost Action CA15212  As a member of the Citizen Science Association (https://citizenscience.org ) I collaborate and network with a range of stakeholders internationally. I am impacting on informal and formal school and university STEM learning in Africa, as part of an innovative project integrating OU Virtual Lab technology in STEM teaching in Ghana.

I have an excellent understanding of how to inform and engage diverse communities to participate and encourage further understanding and engagement in environmental matters. For example, I developed and led  implementation of public outreach and engagement programme with a focus on engaging with ‘hard to reach’ groups’. I managed delivery through a UK-wide team of 13 iSpot Biodiversity Mentors the programme reaching over 80,000 beneficiaries, overachieving on targets set. 

I was an advisor on the UKRI funded Opening Up Science for all project and lead the OU’s contribution to the NERC Community for Engaging Environments project providing expertise on citizen science as a Critical Friend. NC4EE is using a range of approaches combining community development, storytelling and citizen science, to enable communities across the UK to have a meaningful stake in discussing and tackling environmental science issues such as climate change and pollution. The OU is one of over 30 partners including universities and other organisations collaborating with diverse communities on issues in environmental science.

I am also one of the OU representatives supporting Citizen:MK as part of an ongoing response on climate and environmental action, didital inclusion and misogyny as a hate crime.