Citizen Science

Background

Citizen science is one of many techniques adopted by researchers to encourage public participation in public [Page 99]affairs. All aim to improve dialogue between experts and citizens. In social contexts, citizen juries or panels play parallel roles to that of citizen science. It differs from amateur science (e.g. home chemistry experimentation) in being deliberately designed to engage many people to a common purpose. It overlaps with volunteer programmes (e.g. those of Earthwatch), which may include citizen science data collection and analysis.

Citizen science uses the time, abilities, skills and equipment of citizens interested in research. Citizens are co-ordinated and supported through local, regional or global networked organizations to contribute to the work of museums, universities, government agencies and specialist associations. Acceptance by the scientific community that amateur observations are reliable is growing, especially as co-ordinating bodies develop protocols—organization, guidance, training and support and project quality control—to ensure data validity and reliability. This, therefore, contributes to public education. The Australian Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Organisation experts recently claimed that citizen science has improved community scientific and environmental literacy.

History and Recent Developments

Citizen science has a long history. The nineteenth century compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary was a prototype citizen science: People across England contributed word definitions to the compilers. The annual record, since the 1910s, of the first cuckoo heard in spring, in the letters to the editor of the (London) Times newspaper, is an example of spontaneous citizen science. More seriously, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count has engaged citizens in bird watching and recording continuously since 1900.

The number of citizen science projects and participants has grown significantly over the past two decades. WaterWatch (Australia) grew in 20 years to 3,000 groups monitoring 7,000 sites in 200 catchments. The growth was due to increasing public environmental awareness, public education and the accessibility of digital technology.

Desktop and laptop computing, Internet and mobile communication and digital camera, phone, GIS (geographic information system) and GPS (global positioning system) technology now support citizen science engagement with many more people. Technology allows data to be rapidly collected, collated and disseminated, with geo-reference technology (especially GPS) ensuring accuracy. Many projects rely on Internet surveys and reporting, while iPhone apps are being used widely to monitor wildlife. High-power laptop computing and distributed computing allow people to contribute to large-scale computational studies.

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