United Kingdom and CaSTCo
Water Rangers is part of CaSTCo (Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative), a collective of more than 80 UK organizations! We’re working together to create a radical step-change in community science so it can contribute to evidence-based Integrated Catchment Management. It’s funded by Ofwat and led by The Rivers Trust and United Utilities.
Our communities care deeply about their local rivers. How do we help them help us protect and restore them?
Water Rangers’ role in CaSTCo is to help disrupt the status quo with innovative tools and approaches. Our experience creating tools for communities in Canada became an exciting starting point for this work!
What does innovation in community science look like? For us, it means working collaboratively with experts and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible quickly (all the while thinking about efficiency and sustainability). We’ve been lucky enough to work with the smartest and most passionate river champions through this program. This page explores some of the highlights of the past two years’ efforts.
Approach
Learning from the best
Approaching everything with curiosity, we're learning from the many expert partners and integrating their experience to propel the movement forward! Whenever we can, we aim to help others on their journey, too.
Prototyping tools
We're testing physical testing devices plus tools/approaches for organizing, aiming to 'try something and see what works' before we commit too many resources to a single solution.
Iterating and evolving
Our goal is to quickly respond to communities and partner expertise to build momentum behind the movement. This includes a focus on communicating what we've learned to benefit everyone in the collective and beyond!
So far...
16
Prototypes created and tested, including data systems, testkits, hyper-local hubs, fundraising, and blitzes
21
UK groups using our free, open data platform 12 of which are using our testkits
15,000+
UK-based datapoints added to our platform at 521 sample locations
