Water bodies in the UK are failing to achieve ‘good ecological status’ due to sewage pollution, industrial discharges, and agricultural runoff. Ripple Effect is an action-research project led by academics at the University of Sussex in partnership with Friends of the River Medway.

Ripple Effect works to understand the health of the river and work with different stakeholders to improve it. It’s first phase has established a citizen science project where specialists train local people to use science techniques to monitor water health and biodiversity. The volunteers’ findings will be made public and shared with organisations responsible for river health.

The project also explores what motivates citizen science volunteers and how taking part in the Ripple Effect might change what they do and what they feel about the river. This is part of wider research on connection and care as a pathway for sustainability.

Project Ripple Effect

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