BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Citizen Science is an engagement method where citizens participate voluntarily in scientific processes as researchers or data collectors. Citizen Science entails addressing real-world problems, e.g. local pollution or climate change, with citizens scientists helping to develop research questions, conduct experiments, collect and analyse data or interpret results. Citizen Science often involves crowdsourcing voluntary assistance from a large group of individuals for online, distributed problem solving.

  • Data availability: Can massively increase the data available for monitoring and decision-making at (potentially) low cost.

  • Engagement Platforms: Creates platforms for engagement where citizens can learn about research questions and solutions.

  • Information Sharing: Democratises research through the sharing of information between researchers and non-researchers.

  • Organisation: lack of volunteer interest, participant drop-out, maintaining funding over an extended period.

  • Data collection: fragmentation or inaccuracy, inconsistent participant approaches. This can lead to mistrust in the credibility and comparability of Citizen Science data. Need to ensure robust legal protection of personal data.

  • Data use: lack of uptake of Citizen Science data due to collection concerns or availability restrictions. Some scientific journals pose restrictions on the use of volunteer-collected data.

EXAMPLE:

www.iseechange.org is generating a community record of climate change and local pollution by combining observations and photos from citizens with cross-referenced real-time data on weather conditions. The project operates on a global scale, demonstrating the potential for Citizen Science projects to address problems that are geographically dispersed.

With ISeeChange Projects, local communities and partners work together to study and address climate challenges in their own neighborhoods and cities.The projects which citizens are able to contribute towards are typically led by cities, engineers, educators, researchers, and local organizations. They build infrastructure, conduct research, create solutions, increase climate literacy and more.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS METHOD?

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