H2LLab team presents citizen science and participatory modelling work at ECSA 2026 / 10.03.2026

Members of the H2LLab team from the Jožef Stefan Institute contributed multiple presentations at the ECSA 2026 conference, showcasing how participatory approaches can generate actionable environmental health knowledge.

The H2LLab team from the Jožef Stefan Institute participated in the ECSA 2026 conference (Citizen Science between Centre and Periphery), presenting a series of contributions focused on citizen science, environmental exposure, and participatory modelling. The contributions highlighted how real-world data collection, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation can be combined to address complex environmental health challenges.

Across multiple presentations, the team demonstrated how participatory approaches are applied in practice, from indoor environments to urban mobility systems, and how these approaches can support both individual behaviour change and broader societal impact.

One contribution focused on indoor air quality through the INQUIRE project, where approximately 200 households across six European countries participated in a citizen science study combining environmental monitoring, biological sampling, and behavioural interventions. The work emphasised how engaging participants beyond data collection—through personalised feedback, interviews, and workshops—can improve environmental health literacy and support healthier indoor environments.
→ https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/ecsa2026/paper/92725

Another set of contributions presented results from the Urban Cycling Lab in Ljubljana, developed within the URBANOME project. This work explored how cyclists used personal sensors to monitor air pollution and noise exposure, and how access to this data influenced route choices, awareness, and engagement. The findings showed that exposure data can trigger behavioural adaptations and foster community-level awareness, while also opening space for dialogue with decision-makers.
→ https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/ecsa2026/paper/92697

Building on these datasets, the team also presented work on translating citizen-generated data into policy-relevant evidence. By combining sensor data, GPS tracking, and questionnaire inputs, the team developed robust exposure indicators and visualisations highlighting differences between high-traffic and low-traffic routes. While the results provide clear guidance for urban planning, the work also highlighted ongoing challenges in integrating citizen-generated evidence into formal decision-making processes.
→ https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/ecsa2026/paper/92718

Finally, the team contributed to discussions on participatory agent-based modelling, presenting ongoing work on co-creating models of urban mobility and environmental exposure with citizens. This approach moves beyond data collection, enabling participants to actively shape model structures and explore how behavioural, environmental, and social factors interact in complex urban systems.
→ https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/ecsa2026/paper/92719

Together, these contributions reflect the core approach of H2LLab: combining environmental monitoring, citizen science, and participatory modelling in real-life contexts to generate knowledge that is both scientifically robust and socially relevant. By working directly with participants and stakeholders, the lab aims to bridge the gap between data, behaviour, and decision-making, supporting more effective and inclusive environmental health solutions.