Science by the stream: A Citizen journey into urban biodiversity

On Sunday, June 22, 2025, the Vale das Flores River in Coimbra became the stage for a morning dedicated to discovering the nature hidden in the heart of the city.

The initiative was part of the OneAquaHealth Project and the CresceRio project, both coordinated by Maria João Feio from the Freshwater Ecology Lab at MARE-UC, that brought together several researchers with different expertise, around 15 parents and 10 children for an exploratory streamside walk.

Along a carefully prepared path, researchers guided families through different stopping points, each dedicated to a biodiversity group typically found in a stream. From riparian vegetation to amphibians, fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates and birds, children had the chance to see, touch, and learn from experts who were demonstrating scientific sampling methods in the field. With enthusiasm, they proudly showed their parents what they have been learning through the project.

The event also included a hands-on trial of the CitizenScince App citizen science application, where participants were invited to install and test its features.

More than just a walk, the morning offered an opportunity to bring families closer to an urban stream biodiversity and to reveal that, even in urban areas, there are rich ecosystems essential to the city’s environmental health.

Author(s): Sónia R. Q. Serra (PhD), University of Coimbra