Insight Centre launches new Mobile Lab as a major boost for Citizen Science in Galway

The Insight Centre for Data Analytics launched its new Mobile Lab at its headquarters in Galway, as a major boost for Citizen Science.

Insight has now joined the European Citizen Science Association and demonstrated the capacity of its new Mobile Lab to representatives of Galway City Council, Galway, the business sector, the community sector and the academic sector at the Insight building in Dangan.

The lab contains multiple sensing devices which record and transmit environmental data such as temperature, rainfall, wind speed and carbon-related data. This will allow local communities and schools to monitor local data in the Galway area.

According to Brendan Smith of Insight, “the outreach work carried out by Insight over many years can now reach new heights. There has been a huge increase in awareness at the secondary school level in environmental issues. I am looking forward to introducing the Mobile Lab to schools, third level students and community groups throughout Galway”.

Dr Martin Serrano, the Internet of Things (IoT) Unit leader at Insight believes that “this will help us to integrate at a European level through our membership of the European Citizen Science Assoc. and the Open Agile Smart Cities network”.

Former Mayor of Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin who works as a researcher at Insight believes, “this is an example of how we might harness technology as a tool to reduce carbon and facilitate real climate action in the Galway region. Of course, we’ll need to do much more than simply measure carbon but the mobile lab will empower our communities to make a real difference”.