Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL)
The Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL) is a partnership initiative throughout England that aims to get the public more involved with nature through a range of local and national projects. The initiative is funded by the Big Lottery Fund Changing Spaces Programme.
The portfolio of partners includes nine regional universities, the Natural History Museum, the Open University, the Field Studies Council, the Meteorological Office, the National Biodiversity Network, the Royal Parks and the Environment Agency. The lead partner is Imperial College, London.
OPAL has run seven national surveys, focusing respectively on soil, water quality, air quality, climate, biodiversity, invertebrates and tree health. By involving the public in scientific research, the project has been able to collect a large amount of data that can be used to build up a picture of England's natural environment.
Additionally, OPAL has worked to inspire the public to become more involved in nature through its national surveys, regional events, and a wide range of free resources made available through the OPAL website.
Read more about Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL): Soil and Earthworm Survey, Air Survey, Water Survey, Biodiversity Survey, Climate Survey, Bugs Count, Tree Health Survey, Community Environment Report, Projects and Partners
Famous quotes containing the words open, air, laboratories and/or network:
“Outside the open window
The morning air is all awash with angels.
Some are in bed-sheets, some are in blouses,
Some are in smocks: but truly there they are.”
—Richard Wilbur (b. 1921)
“Mary, hear,
O Mary, marry earth, sea, air and fire;
Our sacred earth in our day is our curse.”
—Robert Lowell (1917–1977)
“Hollywood is the only industry, even taking in soup companies, which does not have laboratories for the purpose of experimentation.”
—Orson Welles (1915–1984)
“Of what use, however, is a general certainty that an insect will not walk with his head hindmost, when what you need to know is the play of inward stimulus that sends him hither and thither in a network of possible paths?”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)