Welcome to BUGS, a citizen-science project launched by our research team at the Department of Bioscience Engineering of the University of Antwerp with the support of IMPETUS and FWO!

BUGS stands for “Benefits of Urban Green Spaces”. Urban green spaces include all kinds of green areas in cities - from large parks to small squares with a few trees. These green spaces are full of life, from large trees to the tiniest microorganisms commonly known as “microbes” or “bugs”.

Since 2024, BUGS explores how urban green spaces can support human health. We are especially interested in microbes living in parks, and how contact with them might help keep our immune system strong and balanced. This might even help us prevent immune diseases such as allergies and asthma! At the same time, we study how different people experience urban green spaces and how we can make them welcoming and accessible for everyone.

Under the BUGS umbrella, we run several initiatives. In the BUGS@School project, for example, we hold workshops with primary school children to explore how activities in parks may influence the microbes children come into contact with. In BUGSxUrbanDesign we explore the social dimensions of urban parks. For this, we have launched several initiatives, including an online survey and a workshop with families with young children, where we gathered insights through playful activities and games.

Our long-term vision is simple: to help create urban green spaces that are healthy, inclusive, and open to all. 

Are you curious about our discoveries and interested in supporting the BUGS mission? 

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This project is funded by

IMPETUS is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101058677. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them” and (2) When displayed in association with a logo, the European emblem should be given appropriate prominence. This obligation to use the European emblem in respect of projects to which the EC contributes implies no right of exclusive use.