X-Polli:Nation: Contributing towards sustainable development goals through school-based pollinator citizen science

The X-Polli:Nation Citizen Science (CS) project involves children in learning about pollinating insects, recording scientific data, creating flowering habitats and communicating their importance. Researchers and practitioners cross-pollinated ideas with children and teachers in the UK and in Italy to design and implement a suite of resources and Artificial Intelligence enhanced tools through various stages of an actionable CS cycle. We report on the many ways this approach adopts the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) principle ‘leave no one behind’, raises general awareness of the global goals; directly aligns with SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reducing Inequality) and 15 (Life on Land); and how the project is already supporting actions for the goals, giving children the confidence to become passionate environmental stewards. Having shown through the case study of X-Polli:Nation that pre-existing CS projects can be aligned with the SDGs, we conclude that to maximise such alignment and to benefit society equitably it is essential to co-design CS with diverse groups of participants and practitioners. Involving young people in the repurposing of CS resources had the dual benefit of raising awareness about global sustainability issues while making the CS initiatives sustainable as well.