A river is more than just a river: in Samoa, the Vaisigano tells a story of nature, human actions and the traces we leave behind. This illustrated story shows how citizen science is researching its state of health.
The Übersee-Museum Bremen, in collaboration with the National University of Samoa, has launched a citizen science project aimed at strengthening the relationship between Samoans and their rivers and freshwater systems through improved data collection. The Vaisigano river system covers more than a thousand square kilometres of the island of Samoa. On the Pacific islands, freshwater ecosystems continue to face a variety of risks, ranging from climate change and environmental pollution to over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
Kush Sethi was part of the team that organised the Vaisigano River project. As co-curator of the Citizen Science programme, Kush took a trip to Samoa exploring the connections between nature and culture. In this piece, he reflects on his experiences in the reliance on nature and land resources. He shares his perspective on the custom of Fa a Saāmoa, the guiding ethos of responsibility towards each other and the future of community led environmental programmes.
Using data collection, the Übersee-Museum Bremen together with the National University of Samoa have co-created the citizen science project.
New Yorker author Sohaila Abdulali joined the Übersee-Museum team on a trip to Samoa to take part in the Vaisigano River Project and report about it.
New York-based author Sohaila Abdulali was there when the team from the Übersee-Museum visited their colleagues at the National University of Samoa. One of our greatest adventures was the citizen science project on the Vaisigano River.
New York-based author Sohaila Abdulali was there when the team from the Übersee-Museum visited their colleagues at the National University of Samoa. One of our greatest adventures was the citizen science project on the Vaisigano River.
New York-based author Sohaila Abdulali was there when the team from the Übersee-Museum visited their colleagues at the National University of Samoa. One of our greatest adventures was the citizen science project on the Vaisigano River.