SoilSCAN: Soils, Science and Community ActioN
Research project testing the potential for using handheld soil scanners to map whole-community soil characteristics at high resolution
![SoilSCAN citizen science in Tanzania](https://d3bpgcke55gfwt.cloudfront.net/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBeGRqRVE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--38b69b34bc616056254ed33a392fa71d994cc20a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RkhKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5c2FXMXBkRnNIYVFKWUFta0NMQUU2Q25OaGRtVnlld2s2RTNOMVluTmhiWEJzWlY5dGIyUmxTU0lIYjI0R093WlVPZ3B6ZEhKcGNGUTZEbWx1ZEdWeWJHRmpaVlE2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwVUE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--42754237235ba1e6f9325deaf83c5a2657141cd3/SoilSCAN%20citizen%20science%20soil%20project%20hero.jpg)
Coupling accessible agricultural technology with citizen science to develop evidence-based solutions to land management problems.
Tackling soil erosion challenges together
An action-oriented workshop explored the potential of this type of soil scanner as a citizen science tool, and subsequently evaluated different stakeholder perceptions and perspectives on the use of agri-tech in tackling soil erosion challenges.
Working with the AgroCares scanner
We introduced the handheld soil scanner kit to the community, delivered training and worked together to co-design a short citizen science evaluation programme to enable different sectors of the community to ‘have a go’ with the technology.
Providing data for sustainable land management
The technology enabled marginalised groups, such as women farmers and younger generations, to be integrated into a shared community aspiration for evidence-based sustainable land management and allowed for data sharing with the wider research community.