Create an online tool for mass upload of data & images about consumer products

Details

Mission and objectives

The Centre for Health Science and Law is a non-profit health advocacy organization focusing on food issues, especially nutrition. Our work is divided between Canadian federal regulation reform work, e.g., food and alcohol labelling, advertising to children, pesticide and chemical safety, food security (poverty/inequality), prohibiting the commercial advertising & promotion of breast-milk substitutes, reducing sodium and trans fat in the food supply, science-based dietary guidance, and promoting the use of conflict of interest safeguards in public-interest and public-policy activities. We publish a newsletter distributed mainly in Canada, though it has been on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHSL's has been involved in extensive and diverse advocacy related to international standard-setting at the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council (including related to treaties on business and human rights, the right to development, and children's rights). The guiding mission of CHSL work is to improve public health and equity in Canada and internationally.

Context

The assignment will create a tool to efficiently capture data relevant to SDGs 1, 2 and 3 (poverty, hunger, and health). The data will be used to assess compliance with current regulations and global policy guidance. It could also help inform the need for law reform. The ultimate goal is improving public health. Data will be used by CHSL and potentially other public health advocates and researchers if uptake creates a robust supply of data. The assignment can be completed on the schedule of the volunteer (i.e., no fixed hours per day), however, the main output should be complete within one month of beginning and a resourceful person may be able to complete test-site in only a day or two, depending on the approach taken.

Task description

Create a user-friendly online GoogleForms (or another platform) tool for which volunteers can upload information about consumer products available in several countries, including smartphone images, without users needing to register for a GoogleForms (or other application) account; GoogleForms may require an extension or plug. The project will include testing and adapting the tool following an iterative process to optimize functionality for analysis, research and ease of use by contributors and researchers, including data verification. The tool could apply web scraping and automatic language translation of the user interface and content.