Forth-ERA Information and Public Engagement

Information Sheet

v.2 30/07/2024

We would like to invite you to participate in this research project. You should only participate if you want to; choosing not to take part will not disadvantage you in any way. Before you decide whether you want to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what your participation will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please get in touch with us at forth-era@stir.ac.uk if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information.

What is the purpose of this project?

This project involves building a website where individuals living or working in Stirlingshire or Clackmannanshire can ‘pin’ their experiences of and perceptions about air pollution to a digital map. The aim of the project is to generate a clearer, fuller picture of local air quality conditions across the Forth Valley region. This project is part of a larger project called Forth-ERA, part of Scotland’s International Environment Centre and funded through UK Government and Scottish Government investment in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal. Forth-ERA aims to use near and real-time data flows from sensors, satellites and models to provide a one-stop-shop for environmental data thus enabling data-led, evidence-based decisions and plan for a sustainable and just transition to a net zero future. This project gives residents of Stirling and Clackmannanshire a chance to contribute directly to research that can be used to inform environmental policy.

Why have I been invited?

You have been invited because you are a resident or work within Stirling and Clackmannanshire. This study aims to generate insights into local air quality conditions across the region.

Do I have to take part?

It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part, you’ll be asked to check a consent box to confirm you have read and understood this information sheet before you submit any data. If you decide not to take part, you can simply close this browser and no data will be collected from you. If you have consented to participation and submitted your story but decide you wish to withdraw or edit your story, you can contact us at forth-era@stir.ac.uk within 2 weeks of your submission. You’ll need to be able to give us your email address for your response to be withdrawn or edited.

It is important to note that we cannot remove data from aggregated and compiled data sets once they are published. If subsequent analysis is performed, that analysis will of course not include any responses which have been removed. There are no consequences for participants withdrawing from the study.

What will happen to me if I take part?

As a map contributor, you will be asked to submit or ‘pin’ your experiences and perceptions about air pollution to a bespoke digital map as many times as you like. You may be contacted by a member of the research team to ask you some more details about your story, as this may help us place an air quality sensor close to the area you have highlighted.

What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?

There are no foreseeable risks in taking part in this research. Any reporting of data (e.g., direct quotes) will always be reported anonymously or by first name/nickname only, however you may be identifiable by those who know you by the stories you tell.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

There won’t be any direct benefit to yourself, however there are several ways this project can inform air pollution/environmental governance in Stirling and Clackmannanshire.

First, it can serve as an informational resource guided by the local community to communicate information from residents about their experiences and what is most important when it comes to tackling air pollution out to the broader communities in Scotland and the UK. Second, the digital map and project outputs will be shared with key local stakeholders such as local authorities, local councillors and MPs, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), for example.

What happens to the data I provide?

Participants will submit their contributions to the online map and these will be stored on a secure database accessible only by named members of the research team at the University of Stirling. Stories will be checked to ensure they don’t contain any personal or identifiable information or any offensive language and only those meeting these standards will be validated and published. No personal information about the contributors (full name, contact information, demographic background) will be shared on this platform. As this is a public facing project, online map contributions from participants will be shared on a public website. However, only the ‘story’, the location it pertains to, and a first name or nickname if the contributor chooses to include one will be visible. The results will be anonymised before publishing, and we will not attribute names to any results.

In line with University of Stirling policy, research data collected will be stored for a minimum of 10 years. Personal data (name, email address) will be stored only for the duration of data analysis, after which, it will be securely deleted.

Will this research be published?

This research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences, and showcased at project events (e.g., project meetings and workshops).

Who has reviewed this research project?

The ethical approaches of this project have been approved via The University of Stirling General University Ethics Panel [GUEP 2024 17628 13164].

Your rights

You have the right to request to see a copy of the information we hold about you and to request corrections or deletions of the information that is no longer required. You have the right to withdraw from this project at any time without giving reasons and without consequences to you. You also have the right to object to us processing relevant personal data, however, please note that once the data are being analysed and/or results published it may not be possible to remove your data from the study.

Who do I contact if I have concerns about this study or wish to complain?

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this project, please contact the Scottish International Environment Centre (siec@stir.ac.uk) or the Forth-ERA team directly (forth-era@stir.ac.uk).

You have the right to lodge a complaint against the University regarding data protection issues with the Information Commissioner’s Office (https://ico.org.uk/concerns/). The University’s Data Protection Officer is Joanna Morrow, Deputy Secretary. If you have any questions relating to data protection these can be addressed to data.protection@stir.ac.uk in the first instance.

Thank you for your participation.