Interview with Adrià Pallejà (Cel Net)

In this second video-interview, we continue our exploration of modes of engagement in Citizen Science initiatives, by looking to a hybrid approach, where civic engagement intersects with academic and institutional collaboration.

We explore a long-running CS initiative in Tarragona, home to the largest petrochemical complex in Southern Europe. For over four decades, residents of La Pobla de Mafumet, El Morell, Perafort, and Constantí have lived near major refineries, facing toxic pollution. In response, local communities formed the Cel Net civic platform in 2008, advocating for environmental justice and commissioning independent air quality studies. Adrià Pallejà, a member of Cel Net, joins us to discuss how the project evolved from a citizen-led initiative into a collaboration with universities and local authorities. He shares the project’s findings and their impact on public awareness and policy.