Sensing the River: Embodied Citizen Science as Environmental Learning in Los Pocitos, Havana

Los Pocitos is an informal neighbourhood in Havana located along the Quibú River, one of the city’s most polluted urban rivers. Untreated wastewater, solid waste disposal, and recurrent flooding affect the environmental quality of the area and shape the daily experiences of local residents. For many young people, the river forms part of everyday life, yet opportunities to understand the environmental processes behind pollution and water contamination remain limited.

This project explores how citizen science can support environmental learning through direct engagement with the river. Rather than approaching monitoring solely as a tool for data collection, the initiative examines how observing, sampling, and reflecting on water quality can connect everyday experiences with scientific understanding. The project places particular emphasis on the role of sensory experience, encouraging participants to engage with the river through observation, discussion, and collective interpretation.

Working with youth from Los Pocitos, the project combines simple water quality monitoring activities with participatory learning processes that strengthen environmental literacy, risk awareness, and critical reflection on local environmental challenges. Through this approach, the river becomes a space for learning, dialogue, and community engagement.

The initiative brings together the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the University of Havana, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, and the community-based organization Akokán. Through collaboration between educators, environmental scientists, community actors, and young people, the project seeks to strengthen connections between science, education, and local environmental action while exploring new approaches to citizen science and experiential learning.