Project partners: Bolmen Research Station, PKI Utveckling AB, Sydvatten AB
Grant: SEK 1 125 000
Project duration: 2025-10-01 to 2026-09-30
Contact person: Victoria Vollert, Sydvatten AB
Links to mission: Promotes wise water use, strengthens education and future skills supply in the water industry, democratizes research through innovative methods.
Purpose and objectives
BioBlitz Bolmen aims to test and develop innovative, scalable methods to increase acceptance, change behaviors and strengthen understanding of sustainable water resources and water use. Through citizen science, open source technology and 3D printed microscopes (OpenFlexure Microscope, OFM), schools and the public will have the opportunity to participate in microbiological environmental monitoring of Lake Bolmen. The aim is to develop an educational field kit that can be loaned out and used in different educational settings, to increase knowledge about water resources and raise interest in future careers in the water sector.
Expected impacts and results
The project creates a concrete link between everyday water use and ecosystems through hands-on education and citizen science. Students and the public collect and analyze microorganisms from Lake Bolmen themselves, contributing valuable data to open research databases. The result is a complete BioBlitz kit with microscopes, methods and educational materials that can be easily replicated and used by other schools, organizations and actors.
The project contributes to the Water Wise Society’s mission by promoting wise water use, increasing knowledge about water ecosystems, strengthening education and skills supply, creating new collaboration models between schools, research and society, and making research available to more people through open technology and data sharing.
Planned approach and implementation
The project is implemented in six work packages over one year. First, OpenFlexure microscopes are built and educational materials are developed, after which a pilot phase with 2-3 schools is carried out to test and develop the methods. After that, BioBlitz Bolmen is implemented with more schools, data collection and documentation. Participants upload their observations to open databases and create visual stories that are disseminated via social media and exhibitions. Finally, public events are held, such as open houses at the Bolmen Research Station and Science Center, and dissemination and packaging for further use.
The text on this page was written by the project team. The content has not been reviewed by our editors.
Goals and tasks
- Wise use of water
