Citizen Science Award 2025
Join in the research from 1 April to 5 July!
Currently, more than 60% of soils in the EU are considered unhealthy. This is set to change: The aim is to farm 75% of European soils to be healthy or to significantly improve their quality by 2030.
The BENCHMARKS project aims to validate and further develop indicators for soil health and to create a transparent, harmonised and cost-effective framework for monitoring. Among other things, easy-to-use methods (Soil Health Toolkits) for the local investigation of soil health are to be optimised and tested.
As part of the Citizen Science Awards 2025, we are looking for school classes to act as citizen scientists and independently collect data on local soil health. Five uncomplicated tests to determine soil indicators such as soil texture, soil colour, water infiltration rate, earthworm population and vegetation cover are carried out in a so-called "SoilBlitz" at . The measurement results are documented via an app on the "Soil Health Watch" platform and then analysed.
How can you take part?
Simply enter the measurement results of the five measured soil health indicators in the online test protocol via an app on mobile devices (smartphone and tablet) or optionally via a PC in the "Soil Health Watch" platform. The measurement of five soil indicators takes between 40-60 minutes and can easily be collected in a half-day school day collection campaign.
Instructions for the measurement methods can be downloaded here or at the following link: Soilblitz Austria | Farmin with Nature
All entries will be automatically counted during the participation period 1 April - 5 July.
All entered results will also be visible on an interactive map: Soil Health Demo | Farming with Nature (demo version)
The most committed Citizen Scientists will be honoured at a festive event in Linz in autumn 2025.
Introductory workshops for teachers
In order to support teachers and youth group leaders in incorporating Citizen Science into their lessons or youth group work, the OeAD offers an online introductory workshop for teachers and an online workshop for youth group leaders.
- Citizen Science introductory workshop for teachers
Thursday, 13 March 2025, 14:00 to 18:00 (online)
For registration / late registrations are possible via the PH Vienna.
Email Doris Fallheier: Doris.Fallheier@phwien.ac.at - Citizen Science introductory workshop for youth group leaders
Thursday, 27 March 2025, 18:00 to 21:00 (online)
To register
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Introductory workshop for SoilBlitz-participating teachers
On site ( AGES Spargelfeldstraße 191, 1220 Vienna): Tuesday, 8 April 2025, 14:00 to 17:00
Online: Tuesday, 8 April 2025 online from 18:00-20:00
Registration directly with the project team at soilblitz@ages.at
What is the data used for?
The data collected will be used in the EU project BENCHMARKS to gain an insight into soil health in different countries. BENCHMARKS deals with the development of a cost-efficient, harmonised Citizen Science Soil Health Toolkit.
Based on the collected data, a final report will be written and sent digitally. The data will be accessible to the participants via a website and presented in an online dashboard.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the project or the SoilBlitz, please send an e-mail to soilblitz@ages.at.
Last updated: 12.03.2025
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