Participation In Citizen Science Research Articles

Enhancing citizen science impact in environmental monitoring: Targeted engagement strategies with stakeholder groups

Understanding the motivations and benefits of citizen science (CS) participants is critical to the success of environmental science projects that rely on data collection from engaged citizens. Tailored communication with citizen scientists is essential, leading to the need to target specific societal groups for extensive and high-quality data sets. The purpose of the study was to apply marketing concepts such as stakeholder analysis, value proposition canvas (VPC), and key performance indicators (KPIs) to CS projects. The study examined the extent to which these strategies can be applied to CS projects and add value, resulting in improved recruitment and retention of participants, as well as improved project management. The dynamic landscape of CS projects requires adapted business-oriented approaches supporting ongoing participation with high motivation, acknowledging community needs, and recognizing institutional scientists, akin to targeting potential customers. The case study focuses on the CityCLIM initiative, an EU-funded project collecting urban climate data, especially air temperature, using mobile weather stations. The CityCLIM VPC, analyzing stakeholder groups, facilitated tailored communication strategies by analyzing stakeholder groups and highlighting the effectiveness of the CS cycling initiative within the “Stadtradeln” program. Impact KPIs served as a roadmap for strategic refinement, while data quality KPIs identified deficiencies, guiding adjustments to the campaign. Applied marketing tools improved project planning, engagement, and evaluation, demonstrating the potential of this concept. Adapting marketing tools to recruitment and communication strategies benefits CS projects by targeting specific groups. The holistic integration of stakeholder analysis, VPC, and KPIs streamlines project management and creates a framework for sustainable success. This adaptation forms a robust toolkit for CS project coordinators, contributing to effective communication, engagement, and impact assessment. Applying marketing tools significantly increases CS projects’ reach and impact, ensuring long-term success and meaningful scientific contributions.

Delivering citizen science online and hybrid: impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on recruitment and engagement

This small-scale study explores the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on running and delivering a large-scale, international participatory citizen science project. In doing so, it seeks to identify the challenges posed by the pandemic for the research and practitioner community, as well as suggesting useful strategies, tools and helpful approaches for meeting similar challenges in the future. WeCount was a citizen science project aimed at empowering citizens to take a leading role in the production of data, evidence and knowledge around mobility in their own neighbourhoods. The project was originally designed around in-person engagement and interaction with citizens in five European case studies, but it was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this pilot study, we conducted seven email interviews with internal project members. Data were analysed using content analysis, and five main themes emerged from the interviews: Recruitment (overall and of specific groups); Uncertainty; Logistics; Digital skills; and Blended approach. We report on the lessons learnt about online citizen recruitment and engagement to support future citizen science and other participatory research projects, not only during times of crisis, but also in deciding when it is and is not a good time to use online methods of recruitment and engagement.

A New Generation of Citizen Scientists: Self-Efficacy and Skill Growth in a Voluntary Project Applied in the College Classroom Setting

Using citizen science resources and projects in university education is a burgeoning pedagogical tool that can promote real-world application of science, autonomous learning, and understanding of self-efficacy in science learning. In this case study, we examined several factors relating to self-efficacy and skill growth in STEM and non-STEM majors in life science courses of different levels at one university. Four life science classes in Fall 2022 (n = 109 students) voluntarily participated in a self-guided pollinator training module. Motivations, previous awareness, participation, and self-efficacy and self-identification for citizen science participation and for general scientific inquiry were assessed through pre- and post-surveys before and after module training. Students characterized themselves as STEM or non-STEM majors to understand self-identity. In having students self-report their identity in STEM, we found a trend (79.2%) of natural resource and agricultural majors ranking themselves as non-STEM. Across all participants, we observed a significant increase for learning outcomes between pre- and post-survey results (ɑ = 0.05). Self-reported non-STEM students showed a positive trend between surveys across survey questions. In comparison, self-reported STEM students showed very little increase across surveys but ranked highly in both pre- and post-survey results (mean = 3.42 out of 4). Overall, our findings suggest that even small-scale citizen science–based projects may increase students’ familiarity with concepts based in scientific inquiry and meet learning outcomes benefitting the goals of both higher education and citizen science initiatives.

The Efficacy of Social Media Communication in Engaging Citizen Scientists: Insights From the Jozi Bee Hotel Project

The Jozi Bee Hotel Project recruited Johannesburg residents to help gather data on solitary bee abundance. They were motivated and guided by a strategic communications campaign. This study explores social media’s impact on the citizen scientists’ project involvement, particularly their interaction with visual elements of the communications campaign. Analysis of engagement metrics reveals that social media played a crucial role in sustaining volunteer participation. This demonstrates that a well-executed, ongoing social media campaign has the power to maintain participant engagement throughout the duration of a research project. It suggests that a consistent, long-term social media strategy can drive citizen science participation.

Participatory soil citizen science: An unexploited resource for European soil research

AbstractSoils are key components of our ecosystems and provide 95%–99% of our food. This importance is reflected by an increase in participatory citizen science projects on soils. Citizen science is a participatory research method that actively involves and engages the public in scientific enquiry to generate new knowledge or understanding. Here, we review past and current citizen science projects on agricultural soils across Europe. We conducted a web‐based survey and described 24 reviewed European citizen science projects in the light of the 10 principles of citizen science and identified success factors for citizen science. Over 66% of the projects generated soil biodiversity data; 54% and 42% of the projects generated data on vegetation cover and soil organic carbon, respectively. Our findings show that soil citizen science projects aligned with the 10 principles of citizen science offer an unexploited resource for European soil health research. We conclude that promoting co‐creation, fostering knowledge‐sharing networks and enabling long‐term communication and commitment with citizens are success factors for further development of citizen science on soils.

Bird atlas in action: using citizen science data to generate population trend alerts in Hessequa, South Africa

Citizen science data are rapidly transforming the conservation landscape. Targeted participatory citizen science initiatives generate nuanced data capable of monitoring trends in populations and generating early warnings for species and habitats experiencing significant declines. In the Hessequa Atlasing Area, Western Cape, South Africa, citizen science 'atlasers' involved with the Second Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2) have worked with scientific leadership since 2014 to improve the quality of bird atlas data in their region for species monitoring. In this study, we used reporting rates from SABAP2 checklists in the Hessequa Atlasing Area to calculate changes in range size and relative abundance for the 165 most commonly reported species in the region. We used a seven-tier alert system and broad habitat categories to sort species by priority for conservation action. Our results showed that wetland and marine associated species are experiencing the greatest declines in range and relative abundance in the Hessequa Atlasing Area, whilst urban and grassland associated species are largely increasing. We discuss how observed changes in populations may be used to guide conservation action and provide recommendations for scientists and non-scientific community members on engaging with and responding to the changes highlighted in each of the seven alert levels provided.

Kefir4All, a citizen science initiative to raise awareness of the roles that microbes play in food fermentation.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and are central to human, animal, environmental, and planetary health. They play a particularly important role in the food chain and the production of high-quality, safe, and health-promoting foods, especially fermented foods. This important role is not always apparent to members of the public. Here, we describe Kefir4All, a citizen science project designed to provide the general public with an opportunity to expand their awareness, knowledge, and practical skills relating to microbiology, introduced through the medium of producing fermented food, i.e., milk kefir or water kefir. During the course of Kefir4All, 123 citizen scientists, from second-level school and non-school settings, participated in a study to track changes in the microbial composition of kefirs, by performing and recording details of milk kefir or water kefir fermentations they performed in their homes or schools over the 21-week project. At the start of the study, the citizen scientists were provided with milk or water kefir grains to initiate the fermentations. Both types of kefir grain are semi-solid, gelatinous-like substances, composed of exopolysaccharides and proteins, containing a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast. The experimental component of the project was complemented by a number of education and outreach events, including career talks and a site visit to our research center (Kefir Day). At the end of the study, a report was provided to each citizen scientist, in which individualized results of their fermenting activities were detailed. A number of approaches were taken to obtain feedback and other insights from the citizen scientists. Evaluations took place before and after the Kefir4All project to gauge the citizen scientist's self-reported awareness, knowledge, and interest in microbiology and fermented foods. Further insights into the level of citizen science participation were gained through assessing the number of samples returned for analysis and the level of participation of the citizen scientists throughout the project. Notably, the survey results revealed a self-reported, increased interest in, and general knowledge of, science among the Kefir4All citizen scientists after undertaking the project and a willingness to take part in further citizen science projects. Ultimately, Kefir4All represents an example of the successful integration of citizen science into existing education and research systems.

EXPLORING QUEERNESS AND COMMUNITY AMONG LGBTQ+ CITIZEN SCIENCE VOLUNTEERS

While the body of research on the motivations and outcomes for citizen science participants continues to grow, there remains a lack of information on the social aspects of volunteers' experiences. Given that a sense of community contributes to the overall health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals, it remains unseen if and how LGBTQ+ citizen science volunteers perceive and experience a sense of community in the context of their participation. This study presents findings and recommendations based on data provided by 14 LGBTQ+-identifying citizen science volunteers through semistructured interviews. By understanding the social dimensions of engagement in citizen science for LGBTQ+ volunteers, practitioners across fields can begin to recognize and implement strategies for cultivating and supporting diverse volunteer communities.

Understanding context of violence against healthcare through citizen science and evaluating the effectiveness of a co-designed code of conduct and of a tailored de-escalation of violence training in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq: a study protocol for a stepped wedge randomized controlled trial

BackgroundViolence against health care workers (HCWs) is a multifaceted issue entwined with broader social, cultural, and economic contexts. While it is a global phenomenon, in crisis settings, HCWs are exposed to exceptionally high rates of violence. We hypothesize that the implementation of a training on de-escalation of violence and of a code of conduct informed through participatory citizen science research would reduce the incidence and severity of episodes of violence in primary healthcare settings of rural Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and large hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq.MethodsIn an initial formative research phase, the study will use a transdisciplinary citizen science approach to inform the re-adaptation of a violence de-escalation training for HCWs and the content of a code of conduct for both HCWs and clients. Qualitative and citizen science methods will explore motivations, causes, and contributing factors that lead to violence against HCWs. Preliminary findings will inform participatory meetings aimed at co-developing local rules of conduct through in-depth discussion and input from various stakeholders, followed by a validation and legitimization process. The effectiveness of the two interventions will be evaluated through a stepped-wedge randomized-cluster trial (SW-RCT) design with 11 arms, measuring the frequency and severity of violence, as well as secondary outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), job burnout, empathy, or HCWs’ quality of life at various points in time, alongside a cost-effectiveness study comparing the two strategies.DiscussionViolence against HCWs is a global issue, and it can be particularly severe in humanitarian contexts. However, there is limited evidence on effective and affordable approaches to address this problem. Understanding the context of community distrust and motivation for violence against HCWs will be critical for developing effective, tailored, and culturally appropriate responses, including a training on violence de-escalation and a community behavioral change approach to increase public trust in HCWs. This study aims therefore to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different interventions to reduce violence against HCWs in two post-crisis settings, providing valuable evidence for future efforts to address this issue.Trial registrationClinicalTrial.gov Identifier NCT05419687. Prospectively registered on June 15, 2022.

Multi-country collaborative citizen science projects to co-design cardiovascular disease prevention strategies and advocacy: findings from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and South Africa

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for 20.5 million annual deaths globally in 2021, with a disproportionally high burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is growing evidence of the use of citizen science and co-design approaches in developing interventions in different fields, but less so in the context of CVD prevention interventions in SSA. This paper reports on the collaborative multi-country project that employed citizen science and a co-design approach to (i) explore CVD risk perceptions, (ii) develop tailored prevention strategies, and (iii) support advocacy in different low-income settings in SSA.MethodsThis is a participatory citizen science study with a co-design component. Data was collected from 205 participants aged 18 to 75 years in rural and urban communities in Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda, and urban South Africa. Fifty-one trained citizen scientists used a mobile app-based (EpiCollect) semi-structured survey questionnaire to collect data on CVD risk perceptions from participants purposively selected from two communities per country. Data collected per community included 100–150 photographs and 150–240 voice recordings on CVD risk perceptions, communication and health-seeking intentions. Thematic and comparative analysis were undertaken with the citizen scientists and the results were used to support citizen scientists-led stakeholder advocacy workshops. Findings are presented using bubble graphs based on weighted proportions of key risk factors indicated.ResultsNearly three in every five of the participants interviewed reported having a relative with CVD. The main perceived causes of CVD in all communities were substance use, food-related factors, and litter, followed by physical inactivity, emotional factors, poverty, crime, and violence. The perceived positive factors for cardiovascular health were nutrition, physical activity, green space, and clean/peaceful communities. Multi-level stakeholders (45–84 persons/country) including key decision makers participated in advocacy workshops and supported the identification and prioritization of community-specific CVD prevention strategies and implementation actions. Citizen science-informed CVD risk screening and referral to care interventions were piloted in six communities in three countries with about 4795 adults screened and those at risk referred for care. Health sector stakeholders indicated their support for utilising a citizen-engaged approach in national NCDs prevention programmes. The citizen scientists were excited by the opportunity to lead research and advocacy.ConclusionThe collaborative engagement, participatory learning, and co-designing activities enhanced active engagement between citizen scientists, researchers, and stakeholders. This, in turn, provided context-specific insights on CVD prevention in the different SSA settings.

Komunikowanie nauki: narzędziownia

The aticle presents several different ways of popularizing scientific knowledge. It is not scientific in the sense that it is not a report on a systematic study of the literature or empirical research. It is a tool room: a repository we can turn to in search of tools to help us solve a problem. The article offers three tools. The first is a typology of forms of participation in science. I treat the typology as a tool, too, because defining a problem can be seen as part of the problem-solving process. It's important to understand that there are different forms of science popularization and citizen science participation: each form requires different competencies and will work in a different situation. It's also important to understand that there is a difference between science communication (i.e., what scientists do as part of their work) and science communication (i.e., dissemination of scientific results outside of science). These are two different modes of communication and require separate skills. The second tool is a set of heuristics that may be of interest to those already parsing science communication, but having difficulty communicating science. The last tool is a proposal for a science popularizer's checklist. It is based on my own experience. Anyone interested in science communication can check this tool in action, modify it for themselves, or create their own list, which I encourage you to do.

Quantifying online citizen science: Dynamics and demographics of public participation in science.

Citizen scientists around the world are collecting data with their smartphones, performing scientific calculations on their home computers, and analyzing images on online platforms. These online citizen science projects are frequently lauded for their potential to revolutionize the scope and scale of data collection and analysis, improve scientific literacy, and democratize science. Yet, despite the attention online citizen science has attracted, it remains unclear how widespread public participation is, how it has changed over time, and how it is geographically distributed. Importantly, the demographic profile of citizen science participants remains uncertain, and thus to what extent their contributions are helping to democratize science. Here, we present the largest quantitative study of participation in citizen science based on online accounts of more than 14 million participants over two decades. We find that the trend of broad rapid growth in online citizen science participation observed in the early 2000s has since diverged by mode of participation, with consistent growth observed in nature sensing, but a decline seen in crowdsourcing and distributed computing. Most citizen science projects, except for nature sensing, are heavily dominated by men, and the vast majority of participants, male and female, have a background in science. The analysis we present here provides, for the first time, a robust 'baseline' to describe global trends in online citizen science participation. These results highlight current challenges and the future potential of citizen science. Beyond presenting our analysis of the collated data, our work identifies multiple metrics for robust examination of public participation in science and, more generally, online crowds. It also points to the limits of quantitative studies in capturing the personal, societal, and historical significance of citizen science.

Global mosquito observations dashboard (GMOD): creating a user-friendly web interface fueled by citizen science to monitor invasive and vector mosquitoes

BackgroundMosquitoes and the diseases they transmit pose a significant public health threat worldwide, causing more fatalities than any other animal. To effectively combat this issue, there is a need for increased public awareness and mosquito control. However, traditional surveillance programs are time-consuming, expensive, and lack scalability. Fortunately, the widespread availability of mobile devices with high-resolution cameras presents a unique opportunity for mosquito surveillance. In response to this, the Global Mosquito Observations Dashboard (GMOD) was developed as a free, public platform to improve the detection and monitoring of invasive and vector mosquitoes through citizen science participation worldwide.MethodsGMOD is an interactive web interface that collects and displays mosquito observation and habitat data supplied by four datastreams with data generated by citizen scientists worldwide. By providing information on the locations and times of observations, the platform enables the visualization of mosquito population trends and ranges. It also serves as an educational resource, encouraging collaboration and data sharing. The data acquired and displayed on GMOD is freely available in multiple formats and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.ResultsSince its launch less than a year ago, GMOD has already proven its value. It has successfully integrated and processed large volumes of real-time data (~ 300,000 observations), offering valuable and actionable insights into mosquito species prevalence, abundance, and potential distributions, as well as engaging citizens in community-based surveillance programs.ConclusionsGMOD is a cloud-based platform that provides open access to mosquito vector data obtained from citizen science programs. Its user-friendly interface and data filters make it valuable for researchers, mosquito control personnel, and other stakeholders. With its expanding data resources and the potential for machine learning integration, GMOD is poised to support public health initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in a cost-effective manner, particularly in regions where traditional surveillance methods are limited. GMOD is continually evolving, with ongoing development of powerful artificial intelligence algorithms to identify mosquito species and other features from submitted data. The future of citizen science holds great promise, and GMOD stands as an exciting initiative in this field.

The co-benefits of biodiversity citizen science for well-being and nature relatedness.

Human well-being is dependent on the health of our planet. Biodiversity-related citizen science supports conservation research, and there is increasing interest in its potential as a health co-benefits intervention. This randomized controlled study investigates the health co-benefits of biodiversity citizen science participation. Seventy participants were randomly assigned to a citizen science project or control group for an 8-month period. Both groups completed pre- and post-intervention surveys, evaluating nature relatedness, self-efficacy related to biodiversity loss, subjective well-being, and climate change anxiety. A subset (N = 13) of participants engaged in the citizen science project also took part in focus group discussions. The intervention group reported a significant increase in nature relatedness and self-efficacy to help address issues of biodiversity loss. Although no significant changes were observed for other well-being or anxiety scales, most participants reported positive outcomes related to mental or physical well-being in focus groups. There were stronger positive effects for participants without previous environmental volunteering experience. These results suggest that citizen science participation has the potential to contribute to Planetary Health goals, with sustained co-benefits for well-being and nature relatedness. Future interventions evaluating co-benefits should consider previous environmental volunteering experience and focus on participants with little experience to maximize health outcomes.

Motivations and Barriers to Participation in Citizen Science: The Case Study of the Hong Kong Jellyfish Project

Citizen science projects are designed to encourage involvement of the public with science. Understanding demographics of participants and factors that motivate or create barriers to participation are central in ensuring citizen science is effective. Citizen science is not new to Asia, but its implementation is underrepresented in the published literature of that geographic area, with the current focus largely on Western countries. Here, we consider the experience of citizen scientists participating in the Hong Kong Jellyfish Project. Survey responses (N = 87) indicate demographics similar to other citizen science programs, with participant gender reflective of the general population, and participants typically in full-time employment and highly educated. The main motivating factors for participation were: the project had meaningful goals, and participants wanted to contribute to science and to learn more about jellyfish. The main barriers to participation were: not being aware that absence of jellyfish was a valid observation, lack of knowledge, and lack of time. Notably, survey responses indicate inclusive bilingual communication made the project more appealing to respondents, improved participation, and increased motivation. Interestingly, these results indicate demographic traits, motivating factors, and barriers to participation of citizen scientists in Hong Kong are similar to elsewhere, and further research should be conducted to see if the same patterns persist across other cultural contexts. Where recognized, these motivational factors and barriers can inform the design of citizen science projects to more effectively attract and engage participants.

School participation in citizen science (SPICES): substantiating a field of research and practice

School participation in citizen science (SPICES): substantiating a field of research and practice

Citizen Science: Pathways to Impact and why Participant Diversity Matters

Citizen science has a problem with engaging diverse participants, with a growing number of studies showing those most marginalised in society, who could benefit most from citizen science activities, are the least likely to participate. The full implications of this lack of diversity for what citizen science can achieve remains unexplored. To do this, we reviewed the literature to create a comprehensive list of 70 proposed benefits, outcomes, and impacts of citizen science. We used this list to construct 9 pathways to impact, showing how short-term project outcomes under the themes of data, participant engagement and collaboration lead to a suite of medium- and long-term outcomes. We then explored how a lack of diversity in citizen science participants can cascade through these pathways, affecting the overall ability of citizen science to achieve its myriad potential impacts and further entrenching disparities in society. We advocate for project leaders to use a pathways to impact approach to explore how who they recruit will affect what their projects can achieve. We also call for greater imagination in exploring, testing, and sharing ways in which barriers to participation can be understood and overcome to open citizen science up to all and to achieve its potential.

Facilitator organizations enhance learning and action through citizen science: a case study of Girl Scouts’ Think Like a Citizen Scientist journey on SciStarter

Engagement in citizen science can result in participant outcomes including increased science and environmental literacy and civic action. One factor which may increase the likelihood of these outcomes is facilitation by groups such as employers, schools, or other organizations. We examined how a partnership between SciStarter and Girl Scouts of the USA facilitated participation in citizen science to shape participants’ learning and civic engagement. Between July 2017 and February 2020, participants from over 200 Girl Scout troops completed the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey, consisting of science learning activities, participation in an environmental citizen science project on SciStarter, and a Take Action Project (TAP). Troop leaders provided open-ended descriptions of TAPs which we analyzed qualitatively. Responses provided evidence of learning outcomes spanning informal science learning goals, Girl Scout Leadership Experience outcomes, and Girl Scout STEM outcomes. Participants’ TAPs overwhelmingly related to science and environmental topics (81%) and the majority sought to educate and inspire others (66%), reaching audiences of peers, adults, the general public, and civic leaders. This program demonstrates the potential for facilitator organizations to leverage existing citizen science projects to promote learning outcomes, civic science education, and community action with participants as young as 4–5 years old.

Citizen science approach for monitoring fish and megafauna assemblages in a remote Marine Protected Area

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) safeguard threatened marine ecosystems by protecting fish populations, limiting anthropogenic stressors, and providing additional livelihood for local populations. However, many MPAs do not function effectively due to lack of funding and manpower, engendering the need to find long-lasting, sustainable solutions to monitor and maintain MPA performance. In this study, we utilized citizen science involvement to survey select fish families (Lutjanidae, Serranidae, Carangidae, Scombridae, Sphyraenidae, Lethrinidae, and Scaridae), key fish species (large and vulnerable piscivores), and megafauna in Nusa Penida MPA, Indonesia using the roving survey method. We found that despite a short training period and fast turnover rate, our participants were able to identify all target taxa, as well as detect spatial and temporal trends in fish and megafauna assemblages. An increase in fish density during austral winter was correlated with seasonal upwelling phenomena induced by the southeast monsoon, while site variations were influenced by local topography and type of current. We conclude that citizen science participation contributed immensely to the monitoring of Nusa Penida MPA, and subsequent self-sustained, long-term monitoring will be invaluable for future policy and decision making in MPA management and enforcement.

Challenges, Strategies, and Impacts of Doing Citizen Science with Marginalised and Indigenous Communities: Reflections from Project Coordinators

Citizen science is growing and increasingly realizing its potential in terms of benefiting science and society. However, there are significant barriers to engaging participants in non-Western, non-educated, non-industrialised, non-rich and non-democratic contexts. By reflecting on the experiences of 15 citizen science project coordinators, this paper contributes to the small but growing body of knowledge attempting to identify barriers and opportunities of doing citizen science with marginalised and Indigenous communities. Challenges affecting participation in the analysed projects include issues that range from lack of basic infrastructure and participant safety to unbalanced knowledge hierarchies and data rights. We found that, to overcome these challenges, projects have used several strategies, from promoting decentralized and low-tech solutions to engaging in bottom-up actions from a human-rights approach. Finally, our analysis of project impacts supports the idea that doing citizen science with marginalised and Indigenous communities might have a greater impact for participants than for science, as scientific achievements (although valuable) were not among the most important impacts highlighted in terms of project success. By providing stories from the field in a structured way, we aim to guide, to inform, and to inspire other citizen science projects, and to, ultimately, contribute to broader participation in citizen science in the future.