University of Malta contributes citizen science expertise at CS-MACH1 workshop

The Oceanography Malta Research Group (OMRG), as part of the Department of Geosciences was invited to participate at an international workshop organised within the framework of the CS-MACH1 project, held in Ostend, Belgium, of which it is a project partner.

Mr Alessio Marrone, marine biologist and member of the Oceanography and Marine Geosciences Research Group (OMRG) led by Prof. Alan Deidun, represented the University of Malta at an international workshop organised within the framework of the CS-MACH1 project, held in Ostend, Belgium.

Prof. Alan Deidun, Prof. Adam Gauci and Mr Alessio Marrone are involved in the implementation of the CS-MACH1 project, funded under the Horizon-CSA Europe, which focuses on strengthening citizen science (CS) approaches across Europe through methodological innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

Invited as a speaker, Mr Marrone delivered a presentation showcasing one of the successful citizen science initiatives, drawing on the long-running Maltese campaign Spot the Alien as a case study.

Launched in 2016, the campaign focuses on the detection and reporting of alien marine species within the Maltese archipelago and has seen a marked increase in public participation over the past four years.

Thanks to sustained and targeted engagement efforts, particularly via social media, Spot the Alien has generated in a four years’ time-span over 500 validated records of non-indigenous species. Mr Marrone highlighted a clear correlation between levels of online engagement and the number of records submitted annually, underlining the importance of consistent, locally driven communication strategies in maintaining citizen involvement over time.

A significant part of the presentation focused on the scientific treatment of citizen science data. Mr  Marrone emphasised that while CS datasets are highly valuable, they may incorporate several forms of bias, including spatial, temporal, and observer bias. Proper validation procedures and analytical frameworks are therefore essential to ensure that such data can be reliably integrated into scientific research and environmental management.

The Ostend workshop featured a wide range of multidisciplinary citizen science campaigns, spanning physical and environmental data collection involving divers, sailors, and other sea users, as well as initiatives addressing marine litter and microplastic pollution. These exchanges provided a platform for sharing best practices and exploring how citizen-generated data can support policy, conservation, and scientific knowledge production at regional and European levels.

The participation of the University of Malta in the CS-MACH1 workshop further reinforces its active role in advancing citizen science as a tool for marine research, public engagement, and environmental stewardship on an international level.