What's in a name? The paradox of citizen science and community science

Abstract

Citizen science has expanded ecological and environmental sciences by actualizing studies across greater spatial and temporal scales while incorporating local expertise and interests that might otherwise be overlooked. Broadly, citizen science involves the public in the process of science. However, it continues to struggle to engage diverse participants. Citizen science project coordinators are increasingly trying to promote inclusivity by rebranding as community science to avoid the term citizen. Although well intentioned, rebranding efforts are uninformed by research because an evidence‐based understanding of these terms is lacking. On the basis of results from a survey distributed to participants in citizen and community science, we found differences in how well known and accepted the terms are, who is perceived as initiating and benefiting from the projects, and associated levels of inclusivity. Our findings have important implications for those involved in citizen and community science seeking to better describe projects in the future.