A look at... counting pigeons for science

VMBO, HAVO and VWO students can use the digital curriculum Focus on Human-Animal Relations (Relatie mens & dier in het vizier) by Utrecht University Museum (UMU) to contribute to real scientific research.

In this programme, students meet Dr Vivian Goerlich and Dr Franck Meijboom, researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Vivian studies feral pigeons. The students formulate their own research question and attempt to answer it by counting pigeons. The outcomes of the pigeon counts help Vivian gain insight into the distribution and numbers of feral pigeons. Franck studies how people can interact with animals in responsible ways. Students use photos to express their ideas and emotions about animals. Franck collects the results of the students’ research for use in his own research.

The curriculum was developed by Charlotte Gentenaar at Utrecht University Museum in collaboration with Dr Franck Meijboom, Dr Vivan Goerlich and a teacher at Utrecht secondary school Academie Tien.

This citizen science programme enables students to actively help researchers design and implement research. We hope this will inspire them to take on the role of researcher.

The information from the pigeon counts helps us answer biological questions, such as how pigeons survive in cities. Just like people, they are exposed to environmental pollution. The extent of the pollution can be measured from their feathers and eggs. In this way we can study the effects of pollution on pigeons and their offspring.

In my eyes, this programme has the advantage that you don’t need to have been to university to do research.