“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
Meet Janney Kayastha, a 25-year-old resident of Chapagaun, Lalitpur, who truly shows us what Margaret Mead meant. As an environmental science student, she has a deep love for nature and community involvement. Janney is interested in learning more about our environment and helping protect it through hands-on experience and community work, which is why she actively contributes to precipitation monitoring as a citizen scientist.
“This is my third year doing this, and it has been a rewarding experience.”
Janney first discovered S4W-Nepal through a social media post. For the past three years, she has been collecting daily rainfall data as a dedicated citizen scientist. For Janney, one of the best parts of this journey has been seeing the direct impact of this data. It helps her understand local rainfall patterns and compare local observations with data from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).
“I’m grateful to the S4W team for always reminding us to collect the data, as their support makes a big difference in ensuring we stay on track.”
Janney shares how collecting data can sometimes be a challenge. Especially when it’s raining heavily or if she simply gets busy and it slips her mind. However, the S4W-Nepal team’s reminders really help her and keep her motivated. She also finds it encouraging when the S4W-Nepal team updates citizen scientists on the amount of data and cumulative rainfall they’ve submitted through weekly SMS and social media posts.
Apart from daily rainfall monitoring, Janney finds that her role as a citizen scientist also makes her environmental science studies more meaningful. It allows her to apply what she learns in class in real-life situations, which has deepened her interest in working with water and climate-related issues. According to her, citizen science is more than just collecting data; it’s a powerful force for positive change.
“I believe that citizen science is an important way to create environmental change. It raises awareness, involves people in their communities, and improves data that can help in making better decisions.”
“Get involved! You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference; your work as a citizen scientist really can matter.”
Janney plans to continue her work as a citizen scientist while building her career in the environmental field. She dreams of working in areas like water resources, climate change, and sustainable development. She also encourages other students in a similar field, like her, to get involved.
She suggests S4W-Nepal could offer more training, educational materials, and ways for citizen scientists to give feedback and interact with fellow citizen scientists and the research team. She believes these would really help everyone learn and improve themselves. We thank Janney for her dedication and thoughtful suggestions. We look forward to seeing her continue her journey toward making meaningful contributions to her community and the environment.
