Objectif Sciences International

A Message from the Presidency, May 2022

Anne OUVRARD — 2022-05-20T16:02:22Z

Dear colleagues,

At the end of April, we gathered for three days of discussions about our organization, our operations, roles to be filled, and—last but not least—the financial conditions of our activities. This group included individuals from General Management, Operations Management, and the NGO's Resource Center, working in permanent (part-time or full-time) positions.

Although this workshop was initially designed to discuss changes due to my upcoming departure from the role of Director of Operations for France, the discussion quickly expanded to consider how we might consolidate all the missions of these three main departments to ensure an effective redistribution of tasks among our various colleagues.

Here are the people with whom you'll be interacting on various topics as part of this new arrangement:

Myself, until the end of June
Dominique,
Benoît,
Marie, gradually starting this summer
Céline,
Nellie,
Chloé,
Thomas,
Jeremy and Thomas, for IT-related questions
Christa

In the coming weeks, you will be informed about the projects or needs for which one of these colleagues may reach out to you, or for which you might need to reach out to them.

This workshop was also an opportunity to work on schedules, service formats for constituent members, team members, educators, and volunteers, as well as to clarify the formats expected in return from all these individuals so that we can all carry out our work calmly and efficiently.

Therefore, you can expect some adjustments to our working habits. Ideally, we would like to reaffirm certain procedures, adhere to certain mutual deadlines, and improve everyone's understanding of how the NGO operates. Our system strives to be both horizontal (creative collaboration) and vertical (direction and operational instructions). I believe this is a great opportunity to embrace both working modes at once. These are the elements that have made our shared project so rich and robust—and indeed, they align with modern management trends.

In addition, budgetary concerns regarding the sustainability of our activities also occupied our discussions during the workshop. Regarding the NGO's financial health, it's essential to understand that the savings set aside up until 2019 allowed us to sustain our activities through the difficult and complex two years of the pandemic. Unfortunately, these savings have been fully depleted by maintaining all operations, including those with slight deficits. You may anticipate the consequence for 2022: this year, and likely part of 2023, no deficit, however minor, will be permissible.

Accordingly, the Executive Committee has issued the following instructions: activities must be limited to operations with balanced budgets or those that can achieve balance through prorated funding. An important conclusion on this point: no more subsidies will be provided for deficit operations.

This challenging period ahead should not discourage us; rather, it should encourage us to develop and improve our working tools: tutorials, methodological guidelines, and other resources that deserve updating are ready for enhancement. We count on the whole team to share the workload collectively.

Looking to Africa, it's worth noting that several countries have begun the process of creating Local Groups, and this year several operations are organized under OSI TOGO and OSI RDC groups. These participatory science operations serve local and/or international audiences, just like the operations organized by OSI SWITZERLAND and OSI FRANCE groups. They are already creating direct and indirect jobs, as are our operations worldwide. OSI's entrepreneurial approach has again proven its ability to generate income for individuals and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in just a few months. Additionally, it is with great pleasure that we see educators from OSI joining pre-camps or African operations from Europe, or vice versa, pre-camps and operations in Europe from Africa. This opens the door to promising new possibilities! Finally, OSI RDC has already pioneered new tools for collaborative management of the Local Group by its members. These tools will be shared with other OSI groups at the upcoming OSI International General Assembly.

All of this demonstrates a strong resilience within OSI; the crisis cost us, but it also made us stronger. Let's take a moment to look back and appreciate all that we have achieved together!

Now, summer and the high season of citizen science are upon us, bringing their own challenges, joys, and yes, moments of fatigue. I hope that the next step in the development of OSI's Resource Center will make our path smoother for everyone, in all roles and at all levels.

In just a few days, I will have the pleasure of reconnecting with several of you meeting in local groups across French-speaking Europe for your General Pre-Camps. However, I hope to see even more of you from all local groups at our next Geneva Forum, where I will be delighted to welcome you.

If, in the meantime, you would like to bring my attention to any improvement or innovation that could help develop or consolidate our project, I am, of course, at your disposal.

See you soon,

Anne OUVRARD, OSI President 2022

A Message from the Presidency, March 2022

Anne OUVRARD — 2022-04-09T07:15:22Z

Dear colleagues,

As you know, last year I was pleased to accept the invitation to join OSI's Executive Committee, upon the request of its members at the time (Rosina, Stéphane, Christa, Moussa, and Thomas).

This strategic body, established at OSI's founding, developed further in 2008 with the creation of the International Federation, thanks to all the people who embraced the organization. For the past four years, the Executive Committee has increasingly established itself as the “heart” of OSI's governance, supporting OSI's development. Continuing this momentum was the main reason I wanted to join!

As you know, the presidency of the Executive Committee rotates each year. After spending a year on the committee, I was happy to accept the role of president for 2022.

My hope for this new year is that the “Com Ex,” as we like to call it, can continue supporting the three initiatives launched by the NGO in 2021:

Developing the ISO quality certification system,
Increasing institutional partnerships with universities and higher education institutions,
Building our visibility among our German-speaking and bilingual neighbors more broadly.

To this, I would add a strategic priority that OSI increasingly needs: fundraising.

All these goals are medium-term projects that will require continuity over several years. We will therefore work on these with Christa, Moussa, Rosina, and Thomas, along with the commitment that each of you demonstrates daily.

I would also like to announce my intention to step down from the role of Director of Operations for the OSI France local group in the near future. For several months, I have been working with my closest colleagues, particularly Marie, Dominique, and the Management Committee, to identify and train a successor who will ensure continuity in at least part of the Operations Management France department's responsibilities.

This transition will allow me more freedom to apply my skills where they are most useful, both within OSI and externally.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, I wish us all an excellent 2022, and I warmly invite you to reach out with any comments or questions.

You can reach me by phone as well as by email at dir-france osi-ngo.org. I will update you with my new email address at the end of June.

See you soon, on the ground with OSI!

Anne OUVRARD, OSI President 2022

Presentation of OSI's Research and Education to Science Programmes

Nellie ROBLES, Anne OUVRARD — 2021-03-15T16:57:48Z

Sommaire

[!summary]

BIODIVERSITA Program

Program Research Theme:
A strategy with 4 complementary research axes:

Development of methods and tools for citizen engagement and training
Development of methods and tools for biodiversity assessment and monitoring
Studies on the determinants of biodiversity
Biodiversity assessment for conservation purposes

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: Biodiversity preservation is a key element of sustainable development and the future of human societies.
Mission: Work towards a better understanding of biodiversity, its evolution, and its causes of decline to address conservation challenges more effectively.
Strategy: Develop citizen engagement in the evaluation, monitoring, and conservation of biodiversity.

Additional Information:
Key features of the Biodiversita program:

A program dedicated to terrestrial biodiversity
A program limited to macroscopic biodiversity
A program focused on all systematic groups
A program studying biodiversity function (1) through community or ecosystem-wide studies, and/or (2) by examining interactions between a keystone species and its ecosystem
A field study program relying primarily on field observations, biodiversity inventories, and quantitative biodiversity monitoring.

http://osi-biodiversita.org/Presentation-du-programme-Biodiversita.html

PANTHERA Program

Program Research Theme:
Are there snow leopards in the surveyed area?
If so, how many individuals? Are they reproducing? Is the population sustainable in this territory? Is there sufficient genetic diversity within the population?

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: Studying and preserving the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), a keystone species of Central Asia's mountain ecosystems, helps protect these ecosystems threatened by climate change.
Mission: 1) Enhance understanding of snow leopard biology (Panthera uncia) and the status of its populations in our various study areas (population size, reproduction, mortality, behavior, demographics, home range, territory, diet, etc.).
2) Educate Western and local populations about environmental conservation through this iconic species.
Strategy: 1.a) Contribute to monitoring snow leopard populations (Panthera uncia) and Central Asian wildlife – using long-term non-invasive animal tracking techniques and methods (presence indicators, camera trap studies, and genetic analysis of feces).
1.b) Develop and enrich a wildlife and snow leopard ecosystem database in partnership with local reserves and stakeholders.
2.a) Raise awareness of environmental and biodiversity protection issues through educational outreach and scientific communication for participants and local communities.
2.b) Engage local populations to ensure the program has a meaningful local impact.
2.c) Support actions and organizations involved in nature conservation in the countries where we work.

Additional Information: OSI-Panthera is a conservation biology project.
Program strength: “Long-term pilot study on a large predator.”
Potential axis: What are the effects of environmental factors (topography, human activity, etc.) on snow leopard populations?

http://www.osi-panthera.org/-Presentation-.html

PERCEPTION Program

Program Research Theme: How can a detailed understanding of different ecosystems enable us to address the effects of climate change?
What are the impacts of climate change on the evolution of various ecosystems?
Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: (1) Better understand the relationships between all living beings in an ecosystem in order to (2) propose innovative ecological solutions.
Mission: Raise awareness of integrated management systems through project-based pedagogy to help familiarize everyone with their surrounding environment.
Strategy: Develop and implement study protocols, conduct local awareness actions, and foster institutional-level scaling.

Additional Information: Identify imbalances within an ecosystem

Conduct a non-anthropocentric analysis

Understand the composition, structure, and function of different ecosystems

Act to restore balance in the studied ecosystem

http://www.osi-perception.org/-Objectifs-.html

PALEOZOIC Program

Program Research Theme:

Highlight the history of life's evolution over time to better understand how biodiversity as a whole has evolved after major geological upheavals.

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: (1) Better understand major extinctions and (2) the place and impact of humans on Earth.
Mission: - Develop outreach, education, and scientific communication about current and past biodiversity protection.
Strategy: - Study and identify paleo-ecosystems in the program's study areas. Search for super-predator and umbrella species that inhabited Earth in the past to establish a reserve with local stakeholders.

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:

Were there already migratory movements in certain Triassic tetrapods 240 million years ago?
Which large marine reptiles inhabited the Vocontian Basin in Drôme during the Valanginian, around 135 million years ago?
How does biodiversity react to large-scale climate variations similar to those of the Early Cretaceous?

Additional Information:

Studying biodiversity from various distant periods on the geological time scale can help us understand how life on our planet evolves in response to rapid changes in living conditions. This also raises public awareness of the fragility of our natural balances.

http://www.osi-paleozoic.org/-Objectifs-.html

Explor'Earth Program

Program Research Theme:
Our subject of study: The Earth
The functioning of our planet is at the heart of our actions.
Earth is a complex system requiring a multidisciplinary approach to understand. Topics like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the evolution of geological formations in response to climate change are scientific challenges related to Earth sciences that we propose to explore in this program. Beyond assisting scientists with these themes, our actions allow volunteers to familiarize themselves with the scientific research process, helping them become proactive about their future.

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: Citizens involved in their future
We believe that solutions to our planet's major current challenges will arise from a society where each citizen can choose their path and act accordingly, with awareness, objectivity, and clarity.
Our Mission: Educate in scientific research
In a continually advancing world, science—and particularly scientific research—often lies at the heart of democratic decision-making. In light of this, we believe that every citizen should be able to understand and analyze scientific reasoning. Raising awareness of and educating about the scientific research process equips citizens to make informed decisions about their future.
Mission: Educate in scientific research
In a continually advancing world, science—and particularly scientific research—often lies at the heart of democratic decision-making. In light of this, we believe that every citizen should be able to understand and analyze scientific reasoning. Raising awareness of and educating about the scientific research process equips citizens to make informed decisions about their future.
Strategy: Stays and Training
Several actions enable us to reach our goal:
Research discovery stays that highlight the scientific research process
Participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com stays that provide a direct link to real scientific research
Tailored training to understand current research issues in the field of Earth sciences

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:
MysTerre of the Alps: discovery of research (geology, history of the Alps).
Sicily, Hawaii: discovery of research (volcanology).
Iceland'Lab: participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com - Monitoring the evolution of two glaciers

Additional Information:
Program currently evolving in its structure.
Research stays in karstology and glaciology are under development.
A training program in Earth sciences is being developed.

http://www.osi-explorearth.org/-Presentation-.html

Water Watch Program

Program Research Theme:

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: Protection of aquatic environments
Mission: Water quality monitoring and evaluation of water quality and its changes over time
Strategy: Sampling a large number of rivers, with temporal monitoring (monthly and yearly)

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:

Additional Information:

http://www.osi-water-watch.org/-Objectifs-.html

UNIVERS Program

Program Research Theme:

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision:
Mission:
Strategy:

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:

Additional Information:

http://www.osi-univers.org/-Objectifs-.html

RENCONTRES DE L'EXCELLENCE Program

Program Research Theme:

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision:
Mission:
Strategy:

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:

Additional Information:

CETIS Program

Program Research Theme:

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision:
Mission:
Strategy:

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:

Additional Information:

http://www.osi-cetis.org/-Presentation-3-.html

CHIP HACK'ACADEMY Program

Program Research Theme:
Development of instruments for environmental analysis

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: Open Source technologies serving society
Mission: Development of tools for field measurement and analysis
Strategy: Selection of internal and external projects within our network

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:
Microchips: Programming and electronics projects
Robotics: Design and production projects using digital tools
Informatics: Programming projects for data restitution and analysis software

Additional Information:

http://www.osi-chip-hackademy.org/-Objectifs-.html

DRONE CONNECTION Program

Program Research Theme:
Drones in service of research.

Vision-Mission-Strategy:

Vision: Science education through technology.
Mission: Produce technological and technical resources for OSI research programs or others.
Strategy: Learning, reflection, and development of new scientific uses for drones.

Research Questions Addressed by Each Program Stay:

Additional Information:

http://www.osi-drone-connection.org/-Presentation-.html

Presentation of the Participatory Development Programmes

Nellie ROBLES, Anne OUVRARD — 2021-03-15T15:13:34Z

For each of our Participatory Development Programs, here is:

the presentation of the Program's Issue,
and the presentation of its Vision-Mission-Strategy for the coming year.

- Who we are

Presentation of the Sustainable Development Pedagogy and Logistics Programmes

Nellie ROBLES, Anne OUVRARD — 2021-03-15T15:05:34Z

For each of our Programs in Pedagogy and Logistics for Sustainable Development, here is:

an introduction to the Program's Key Issues,
and a presentation of its Vision-Mission-Strategy for the coming year.

- Who we are

OSI's Charter for Research Integrity

2020-01-08T15:40:22Z

Sommaire

1) Training of Participants

Participants will be trained in the scientific approach: developing research questions, creating protocols, writing results and perspectives, and all processes necessary for their mission.
All stays can be recognized as an internship for a student, with the agreement of the scientific educator and the program manager.
During a participatory stay, the participant is invited to share their specific knowledge with teammates to further enrich the research project.

2) Data Collection

Data collection must:

Comply with the laws of the study country and international laws.
Respect the local culture, its beliefs, and customs.
Promote, when available, methods that do not harm the integrity of the study subject (wildlife, flora, landscape...).
The study should be conducted with minimal impact on the field and must comply with the ethical charter for observing wildlife (see environmental charter).

3) Data Rights and Sharing:

All collected data are open data under Creative Commons license. By default, they will be published under a CC license (“Attribution + Non-Commercial Use + No Derivatives + Share Alike”). However, each program manager may decide to publish certain data under a more permissive CC license (allowing modifications, for example).
Participants who contributed to the data collection must always be credited and acknowledged.

Participants, mentors, partners, or any other individuals participating in an OSI stay agree that the collected data can be used and published as open data for scientific purposes by the NGO's research programs or any other institutional research organization.
Data and knowledge sharing can be done:

with student interns
with other entities, NGOs, researchers, etc.
on participatory databases (e.g., observation.org for biodiversity)

4) Publication of Results

The publication of results is always carried out after validation by the responsible manager of the relevant scientific program within the NGO.
It can be done:

On the websites of each of the NGO's research programs
In journals and/or on science outreach websites
On participatory platforms like PrePrint (e.g., BioRxiv.org and ResearchGate)
In scientific journals with an impact factor

5) Relationship with Public or Private Partner Laboratories

Without a more restrictive contract, institutional partners participating in an OSI participatory project outside their official positions retain their independence.
The NGO commits not to file for patents (see Creative Commons license)

6) Management and Communication of Research Projects

The NGO commits to publicly presenting all its research projects and their progress at least twice a year, during the Geneva Forum and the strategic committees of each research project.
Research programs, through their managers, commit to considering feedback from colleagues, partners, participants, and the scientific community during their evaluations and planning.
Research program managers commit to publishing their scientific reports at a minimum on their website, and possibly in scientific journals in collaboration with relevant partners, in addition to their activity reports.
In cases involving data on sensitive species, scientific reports may not be posted online and will only be sent upon request (with a note about the availability of such reports on the website).

7) Research Project Ethics

Research projects aim to increase knowledge while respecting living and non-living entities, in line with the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) defined by the UN.
The objectives of the projects are apolitical, secular, and non-dogmatic.
The OSI NGO commits to verifying and respecting the ethics of research projects through internal and peer review, which occurs once a year during the strategic committees of each NGO program.

Vocabulary:

Strategic Committee: annual meetings to monitor Research Programs
Geneva Forum: annual international conference, combined with the NGO's International General Assembly
Participant: individual taking part in a participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com stay
Research Program: a series of stays and events related to a common research theme

Value Enhancement of Results

Stephane RODE, Marie DENIZET, Anne OUVRARD — 2019-01-08T14:53:39Z

Description:
- Collect and compile the most significant results into an annual and decennial report.
- Promote the results + link to the highlights.
- Track mini-reports + write an article if there is a notable highlight.
- Post a brief in this forum linking to the full article on the program's website.

Implementation and/or Follow-up Format:

Response Timeframe: Annual report to be published in October.
Production Timeframe After Consideration:

Financial Contribution: included by default.
Responsible: Anne, with consultative assistance from Marie.
Communities of Practice: None.
Tutorials: None / Links (include links to tutorials for task contributors).
Notes: None.

Portal News

2010-01-11T12:44:19Z

This pilot cell keeps you informed of updates made to the Resource Center.

- Pilot cells / bloc_sommaire, form_account_creation, restricted_access, Effectiveness, News