Public engagement in urban microclimate research - An overview of a citizen science project

The term "citizen science" broadly describes public engagement in scientific research in collaboration with professional scientists. This paper discusses the application of citizen science in microclimatic research for a project recently funded by the Australian federal government. The aim of the project is to engage local communities across Australia in urban microclimate research and empower the public in adopting various mitigation actions. The different steps involved in the project, ranging from engaging councils and citizens, selection of precincts and measurement locations according to the strategic priorities of each council, designing instrumentation and cost-effective method of gathering high quality data are discussed. The main challenges anticipated in implementing the project at large spatial and temporal scale and how those challenges will be addressed are also explored.