Citizen science: explore your mobility
As part of the AMBER research project, a citizen science project will take place in Berlin in 2025 and in Frankfurt (Oder) in 2026, in which citizens will take a close look at their mobility in everyday life.
Who can take part?
Do you live or work in Berlin or Frankfurt (Oder)? Would you like to take a closer look at the way mobility feels like in the city? No matter which means of transportation you already use and whether you want to try out new ones or not: Your experiences are important to better understand mobility in cities. Together we will find out what healthy mobility could look like in the future.
How does it work?
To take part, you ideally need a smartphone. In our app, you can collect data on everyday routes, such as your journey to work or school.
It's about how you experience your journey or your walk. Questions that interest us include, for example:
- How do you rate noise pollution and air quality?
- In what weather, on which routes and under what conditions do you consider walking, cycling or public transport?
- What obstacles and advantages do you observe when you try out unfamiliar means of transportation?
When do you start?
Berlin: 2025 (pre-registration from fall 2024)
Frankfurt (Oder): 2026 (pre-registration from fall 2025)
We look forward to working with you!
What is Citizen Science?
People are curious by nature and want to find out how things are connected. Many of them become real experts in subject areas that interest and fascinate them. When citizens contribute to research processes, this is called citizen science. Citizen science is an increasingly popular and open form of science in which scientific “laypeople” design and carry out research processes together with professional scientists.
This collaboration can vary in intensity and take place in different phases of the research process: from a joint definition of questions and problems and the development of a research project, to data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication of the results. Modern technologies, such as smartphone apps or websites and forums, can provide good support for the exchange and research process. One of the aims of citizen science projects is to create new knowledge that is relevant to society, politics, and science. Proximity to the individual experience of social problems is particularly important for this.
Depending on their capacity and interests, citizens can play an active role in shaping the research project, share their knowledge, learn new things, meet inspiring people or simply have fun researching their everyday lives and surroundings.
More about the AMBER project ...
First Citizen Workshop on May 30, 2024:
Helping to shape mobility research
"Imagine you could commission a research project on mobility in cities – what questions do you think should be investigated?" At the first citizen workshop in the AMBER project on May 30, 2024, in Berlin, around ten citizens gathered ideas. Topics were, for example: What can the car offer that other means of transportation cannot? Where are the obstacles to switching to active mobility? What influence does urban planning have on how considerately road users treat each other?
In conversations in pairs and a discussion round, the citizens also shared their personal experiences in urban traffic and exchanged ideas on possible solutions. For example, how should traffic lights be designed? Optimized for cars and buses – so that there is less congestion – or rather a “green wave” for bicycles to create an incentive for active mobility? Too short green phases on major roads were identified as a problem for pedestrians – especially for families with small children. At the end of the discussion, the guests thanked the AMBER research group for the exciting exchange and provided feedback.
Further forms of exchange with citizens are planned. Such participatory formats serve to prepare the citizen science studies of the AMBER 2025 project in Berlin and 2026 in Frankfurt (Oder). If you are interested in an exchange with the AMBER research group, please get in touch: info@amber-forschung.de
