Read, Learn, Act | Libraries and Positive Climate Action

This event, originally titled 'Libraries and Positive Climate Action Webinar Series 2025-26: Read, Learn, Act', took place on 11 December 2025. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

This webinar explores how libraries are getting involved with citizen science and the lessons learnt in the process.

The British Library is hosting a series of webinars focused on libraries and the climate crisis. The aim of the series is to bring together international library leaders to share their different responses to the climate emergency.

This session explores how libraries are getting involved with citizen science and the lessons learnt in the process. Libraries are increasingly participating in citizen science initiatives, enabling them to become active participants in improving our knowledge about our local environments and climate impact on our lives. From collecting data about biodiversity, water pollution, or coastal erosion, to helping with analysis and dissemination of scientific results, citizen science is helping scientists and engaging the public more deeply with emerging issues.

Discover more of our climate webinar series at our playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcM3hEgp2RYA

To understand more about the British Library's work on sustainability and climate change, visit our website: https://www.bl.uk/about/sustainability

The speakers for this event include:

Dr Javiera Atenas is a senior lecturer in learning and teaching enhancement at the University of Suffolk. Her research focuses in developing critical data literacies amongst academics and supporting institutions in developing open education, open data and science policies as well as building capacities in these areas.

Dr. Alison Cawood is the Associate Director for Public Engagement at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). She oversees SERC’s environmental education, participatory (citizen) science and professional training programs. Alison works to make SERC science relevant and accessible to a wide range of audiences. Alison earned her Ph.D. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, where she was a National Science Foundation GK-12 Teaching Fellow. She earned bachelors’ degrees in Marine Biology and Hispanic Studies from the College of Charleston.

Andrea Deri is a cataloguer at The British Library and lead contributor to the UK Web Archive Climate Change Collection. Andrea has been monitoring wildlife around the British Library since May 2022. Her wildlife observations sparked stories that linked wildlife around the library and selected collection items, learning materials, staff development and collaboration with the local community. Andrea has been involved in community-based research over three decades throughout her international career. As a member of the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Anthropological Institute, the National Biodiversity Network (UK) and several international professional networks, her research contributes to the exploration of how local ecological knowledge develops.

Decide Mabumbo is a disaster risk reduction and community resilience specialist with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), part of the CGIAR network. His work involves designing and implementing programs that strengthen community capacity in response to climate disasters. He is a strong advocate for integrating citizen science and local knowledge into climate research and action.

Cordelia Spalding FRSA is Senior Specialist for Public Engagement at the Chief Scientist Directorate- Natural England. Cordelia has worked at the point where environmental and scientific discovery and endeavour meets culture and community for over 20 years. Her current national role encompasses a wide number of initiatives aligning with Natural England’s strategic direction: “Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security”, reflecting Natural England’s ambition to build more diverse partnerships and enhance collaboration with different sectors to realise the opportunities that nature recovery holds. Cordelia instigated and leads on the “Culture Nature” series of projects in collaboration with Libraries Connected – working with Libraries and their communities across England to enhance and enable greater relationships with nature, and to empower library teams to become ambassadors for nature in their communities.

The session is chaired by Maja Maricevic, Director of Science and Innovation at the British Library. Maja is particularly interested in the big challenges of our time, such as the continuing digital transformation and climate change. Maja chairs the UK Green Libraries Campaign, a partnership of UK libraries working towards a better future for planet and people. She is also Interim Chair of London’s Knowledge Quarter. She has previously worked in universities, government departments and as a professional consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers.