Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how the Coexist Project, operated by the University of Hull, collects, uses, stores, and protects personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. We are committed to handling your data responsibly, transparently, and only for the purposes described in this policy.
Who We Are
The Coexist Project is a nationwide citizen science programme led by Dr Blake Morton at the University of Hull, in partnership with the University of Lincoln. The Project is funded by the UKRI Higher Education Innovation Fund and the Ferens Education Trust.
For the purposes of data protection law, the University of Hull is the Data Controller for personal data collected through this website and the Coexist Project's research activities.
Project Lead: Dr Blake Morton, Department of Psychology, University of Hull
Contact: b.morton@hull.ac.uk
What Personal Data We Collect
We collect different types of personal data depending on how you interact with the Coexist Project:
Website visitors:
- Basic usage data such as pages visited, time spent on the site, and browser type (collected anonymously via analytics tools)
- IP address (anonymised where possible)
Enquiry form submissions:
- Name, email address, and organisation (if provided)
- The content of your message
- Your consent confirmation (GDPR checkbox)
Volunteers (Citizen Scientists):
- Name, email address, and contact details
- Location information (general area — not precise GPS)
- Observational data you submit as part of fieldwork
- Signed Code of Practice agreement (not publicly shared)
- Anonymous feedback from optional post-fieldwork sessions
Public survey respondents:
- Survey responses are collected anonymously — we do not collect names or contact details through our public questionnaires unless you voluntarily provide them
- General demographic information (e.g.age in years and first half of postcode) where included in the survey
How We Use Your Data
| Purpose | Data Used | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Responding to enquiries submitted via the website contact form | Name, email, message content | Legitimate interests / Consent |
| Managing volunteer participation in the citizen science programme | Name, contact details, observational data | Contract / Legitimate interests |
| Academic research into human-wildlife coexistence | Anonymised observational and survey data | Public task / Research (Article 89 UK GDPR) |
| Sending project updates to opted-in contacts | Name, email address | Consent |
| Improving the website and user experience | Anonymised analytics data | Legitimate interests |
| Compliance with legal and ethical obligations | As required | Legal obligation |
We will never use your personal data for marketing purposes unrelated to the Coexist Project, and we will never sell your data to third parties.
Research Data and Anonymisation
The core purpose of the Coexist Project is academic research. All data used in published research outputs — including journal articles, reports, and presentations — is fully anonymised before use. No individual will be identifiable from any published findings.
Observational data collected by volunteers is processed through our secure digital dashboard system. This data is validated and quality-checked before being used for analysis. Raw volunteer data is accessible only to the Coexist Project research team and the local authorities collaborating with us.
Survey data collected from public respondents is processed anonymously from the point of collection. We do not link survey responses to individual identities.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to help it function correctly and to understand how visitors use the site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.
We use the following types of cookies:
- Essential cookies — required for the website to function (e.g. session cookies, security tokens). These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics cookies — used to understand how visitors interact with the site (e.g. pages visited, time on site). These are anonymised and do not identify individuals. We use these to improve the website.
- Functionality cookies — remember your preferences to improve your experience on return visits.
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of the website. For more information about cookies, visit www.aboutcookies.org.
Who We Share Data With
We do not sell, rent, or trade personal data. We may share data in the following limited circumstances:
- University of Lincoln — as a co-investigator institution, research team members at Lincoln may access anonymised research data as part of the project's academic activities
- Partner organisations — anonymised, aggregated findings may be shared with our partner organisations (local authorities, wildlife trusts, and conservation NGOs) to support evidence-based decision-making. No personal data is shared with partners.
- IT and hosting providers — our website is hosted on a secure server. Our hosting provider processes data only on our behalf and under a data processing agreement.
- Legal requirements — we may disclose personal data if required to do so by law or in response to a valid request from a public authority.
How Long We Keep Your Data
| Type of Data | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Enquiry form submissions | 12 months from date of submission, unless an ongoing relationship requires longer retention |
| Volunteer contact details and participation records | For the duration of the research programme, plus 5 years thereafter in line with the University of Hull's research data policy |
| Anonymised research data (observational, survey) | 10 years, in accordance with academic data retention standards |
| Email list (opted-in project updates) | Until you unsubscribe or request removal |
| Website analytics data | 26 months (standard analytics retention) |
Your Rights Under UK GDPR
Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
- Right of access — you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to rectification — you can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to erasure — you can ask us to delete your personal data in certain circumstances
- Right to restrict processing — you can ask us to limit how we use your data
- Right to data portability — you can ask us to provide your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to object — you can object to the processing of your data where we rely on legitimate interests as our legal basis
- Rights related to automated decision-making — we do not make automated decisions that significantly affect individuals
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at b.morton@hull.ac.uk. We will respond within one calendar month of receiving your request. There is no charge for making a request.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been handled unlawfully. You can contact the ICO at www.ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
Data Security
We take the security of your personal data seriously. We have put in place appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. These include:
- Secure HTTPS encryption on this website
- Password-protected access to research data systems
- Access controls limiting who can view personal data within the research team
- Regular security reviews of our data systems and storage
In the unlikely event of a data breach that poses a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the ICO in accordance with our legal obligations.
Third-Party Links
This website contains links to external websites, including those of our partner organisations, YouTube (for embedded videos), and academic publications. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal data.
Children's Privacy
The Coexist Project is open to adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under the age of 18. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately at b.morton@hull.ac.uk and we will take steps to delete it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in applicable law. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Where changes are significant, we will notify volunteers and opted-in contacts directly by email.