Get Involved
The users of pHil
The main users of our pH-sensor, pHil, are divers. The individuals that get to explore our oceans and those extra 71% of our planet. These people get to experience the consequences of a decreasing pH-level first hand and since the divers are dependent on the oceans they are more eager to preserve and improve its state. Not only do they have a personal interest in the wellbeing of the oceans but they also have an incredible opportunity to help and gather underwater data. With small measures divers can contribute with citizen science and the future of diving. With the use of pHil the scope of diving will be widened from including adventure and exploration of the oceans to also helping and protecting it.
Divers and the diving community
Diving is a popular activity all across the globe and people are exploring the world beneath the surface in the coasts of Australia and Bali as well as the coasts of Sweden. A characteristic of the sport is that the dives most often occur in groups and through structured classes or sessions. According to Emmy Ahlen, a diving instructor and cofounder of Vrakdykarpensionatet, the majority of divers are in fact members of some kind of diving club or association and perform all their dives together with others. Except for a fascination of the oceans, the divers have in common that the context and the people of the community is of greatest importance.
The choice of targeting the diving community rather than the individual diver has several motives. Overall the main reason is to lower the threshold for the individual, making it easier and more likely for divers to actually use the sensor, gather data and fill the gaps. By involving and engaging diving clubs, associations, boat-drivers and other actors active in the diving industry more divers could be reached and engaged. The association or company can more easily change the nature of the dives, making pHil a given part of every dive. By involving the clubs we can ensure that every diver learns from their first dive that pH-data gathering is included in the routine. The individual does not have to take the same amount of responsibility and even new divers or divers who otherwise would not care enough to take action can be involved.
Gathering and logging data
At the moment divers use many different gadgets, devices and sensors and are already using different sites to log and share the data and details of their dives to make it available to others. Adding another instrument to the equipment and data to log is therefore not too complicated and the routine would not have to go through any severe changes. How the data is taken care of and is used is explained HERE.
How to get involved?
Even though the clubs, associations and diving companies are our main focus, our goal is to involve as many divers as possible and as a private diver you can also get involved. If your club isn't already using pHil, involving them is a good way to start. In that way not only yourself but many others will be engaged, contributing with citizen science. However building your own sensor to bring on your own dives is also needed and appreciated! HERE you can read more about the sensor and how to build it and HERE you can upload your data, making it available for our scientists and researchers who need it.