Citizen Science Mannheim - German Cancer Research Center

Join Us to Map Mannheim for Better Health!

Ein Regal in einem Geschäft für Tabakwaren mit verschiedenen Sorten von Zigaretten und Dampferprodukten. Mehrere Marken und Geschmacksrichtungen sind klar aufgereiht, darunter auch Hinweise zu den gesundheitlichen Risiken des Rauchens. Das obere Schild zeigt "Tabakasse".

Become a Citizen Scientist and collaborate with us to map where tobacco and alcohol are sold in Mannheim on 11 October, 2025. Your local knowledge can help create healthier, fairer neighborhoods, and you’ll be part of a project that can make a real difference in your community. Contact details are listed below.

Project overview

Smoking and alcohol consumption are among the leading preventable causes of cancer and premature death in Europe. Smoking alone causes one in five cases of cancer in Europe. Together, these factors significantly increase the risk of cancer and increase the burden of disease in our environment.

Our project aims to map tobacco and alcohol retail environments in Mannheim to better understand how neighborhood characteristics contribute to differences in smoking and drinking behavior. Analyzing the relationship between tobacco and alcohol outlet locations and the health of the population provides important insights for targeted prevention measures and fairer health for all Mannheim residents.

Aims/research questions

Eine Hand hält ein Smartphone, auf dessen Bildschirm eine Kartenansicht mit verschiedenen Straßen und markierten Punkten angezeigt wird. Eine Fingerberührung deutet auf eine Position auf der Karte hin.

The study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of tobacco and alcohol outlets in Mannheim and how these may affect smoking behavior and alcohol consumption, with a particular focus on socioeconomic inequalities and inequalities between migrant communities. The main research questions are:

What is the geographical relationship between tobacco and alcohol outlets, including cigarette vending machines, and areas frequently visited by children and young people?
To what extent do the location and density of tobacco and alcohol outlets influence smoking prevalence and alcohol consumption?
How do neighborhood and individual-level factors influence susceptibility to smoking and alcohol consumption?

Relevance

Mannheim is characterized by its diversity, as almost half of its residents have a migrant background and serves as an ideal case study to examine social and geographic determinants of health.

Knowing where tobacco and alcohol are sold, especially areas of the city where young people are most likely to be exposed to these products, will help develop interventions to protect youth and reduce health inequalities among different neighborhoods. Mapping these environments can guide public health policy and support efforts to create healthier neighborhoods for all.

Participation & procedure

Eine Hand hält ein Smartphone, das eine Kartenanwendung zeigt. Die Karte enthält Straßen, Wege und Punkte von Interesse, die deutlich markiert sind. Der Hintergrund ist unscharf, was den Fokus auf das Gerät und die Karte legt.

We are looking for volunteers, students, residents and community members of all backgrounds who would like to participate as Citizen Scientists. Training and support will be provided. No prior experience is required.

Here's how it works:

Registration: Contact us (email or phone).
Mapping Day: It is a one-day event! Come to our Mapping Day on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. There you will receive practical training on data collection with the app and start mapping directly in your assigned area.
Collect data: You will document the locations of tobacco and alcohol outlets in Mannheim - very easily with an app.
Recognition: As a thank you, all participants receive a small gift after completing their data collection.

Eligibility to participate

Any adult aged 18 or over from Mannheim and the surrounding area can take part. No prior knowledge or technical know-how is required. An interest in public health, mapping, or community volunteering is helpful, but not required.

Data ethics and data protection

Your privacy and personal data are fully protected. We do not collect or publish any personal information about volunteers. All data collected relates only to the locations of tobacco and alcohol outlets and cigarette vending machines.

The data is stored securely on the DKFZ's institutional servers in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Access is restricted to authorized project staff and the results are only passed on in aggregated form to protect anonymity.

Frequently asked questions

Anyone 18 and above who lives in Mannheim or the surrounding cities, including students, working adults, senior citizens and community members.

A smartphone and a willingness to go for a walk in your neighborhood.

Yes. At the start of Mapping Day, you’ll receive a hands-on training session on using the data collection app. Right after training, you’ll head out the same day to walk your assigned area and collect data. Our team will be on site throughout the day to answer questions and offer support whenever you need it.

As a thank you for your time and contribution, all citizen scientists will receive a small token of appreciation upon completion of their data collection activities.

Only location information on tobacco and alcohol outlets is collected. No personal information about volunteers is collected. All data will be stored securely on DKFZ servers and used for research and health purposes only. The results will be published in aggregated form to protect your anonymity.

By mapping where tobacco and alcohol are sold, this project aims to identify areas of the city where young people are most likely to be exposed to these products and raise awareness of their availability and accessibility among residents, schools and policy makers. At the same time, the project aims to stimulate community dialog on how our shared spaces can better support wellbeing.

Yes, your involvement is always welcome. If you would like to become active as a Citizen Scientist beyond data collection, for example in the evaluation or presentation of the results, we would be delighted to hear from you. All you need to do is let us know!

No, all training courses and communication within the project take place in both German and English. You can choose the language that suits you best.

Get in touch with us

For more information, to sign up as a volunteer or for questions/comments about the project, please contact:

Sisay Alemu

Project Lead
+49 6221 42 4167
Silvia Copes

Volunteer Coordinator
+49 6221 42 4167