Transformative Potential of Citizen Science

Transcription

1 Transformative Potential of Citizen Science Aletta Bonn Anett Richter, Lisa Pettibone & Katrin Vohland Helmholtz- Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, German Centre for Integrated Biodiversity Research (idiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Museum for Natural History, Berlin MPI Open Science Days, 17 February 2016 Berlin

2 CS internationally and nationally

3 New forms of participation? Citizen science is defined as scientific work undertaken by members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions, and citizen scientists Oxford Dictionary

4 New forms of participation? Projects in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions"(cornell Lab, US) Citizen Science describes a range of ideas from a philosophy of public engagement in scientific discourse to the work of scientists driven by a social conscience In North America, CS typically refers to research collaborations between scientists and volunteers, particularly (but not exclusively) to expand opportunities for scientific data collection and to provide access to scientific information for community members.

5 Citizen Science in Germany We want to involve citizens and stakeholders from civil society consistently in the discussion about future projects and the design of research agendas. We want to develop new forms of citizen participation and the communication of science and merge them into an overall concept. Coalition contract of the German Government 2013

6 Co- Design Co- Production Active Participation e.g. Surveys Passive Observation Communication of research results (after Sonja Kreft (MfN) after Bonney et al 2009)

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8 Forms and Formats of Citizen Science Scientific Knowledge Generation Citizen Science Personal Interest Engagement Societal Relevance

9 Transformational aspects of Citizen Science A) Form of participation of citizens in scientific processes from data acquisition & processing to co-design & coproduction of research B) Increasing scientific literacy & empowerment Understanding, acceptance, uptake and implementation of transparent and responsive research in society C) Innovation for scientific research by engaging with a variety of knowledge domains and introducing new perspectives and information as well as new partnerships

10 How much are you interested in scientific themes? Very much M u c h P a r t l y Rather low Low

11 Integration of citizens in scientific processes (citizen street survey n=500) Questions Design Data collection Analysis Documentation Publication Perspective citizens

12 Integration of citizens in scientific processes (scientists anonymous ted, n=230) It is high time, that civil society gets involved more in science More citizen participation, yes, but within limits I see the potential, but have doubts on the validity of the data Amateurs have no place in science I don t know

13 Integration of citizens in scientific processes (27 position papers from scientific institutions) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Research Agenda Research question Research design Data collection Data analysis Data documentation Data communication keine na Angabe ungültig Perspective scientific institution

14 Integration of citizens in scientific processes (17 position papers from civil society organisations) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Research Agenda Research question Research design Data collection Data analysis Data documentation Data communication keine na Angabe ungültig Perspective civil society

15 Public Präsentation Knowledge exchange Personel exchange Before Receipt of Annual Partizipation: Data Analysis (Richter et al, in review) Partizipation: Publication in

16 E3S Extreme (Impact) Events and Environments Citizen Science Observatory

17 Identify locally relevant questions and approaches Establish monitoring systems Evaluate progress Standardize and verify data Integrate into decision making

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19 Bürger schaffen Wissen Wissen schafft Bürger Joint consortium of Helmholtz and Leibniz institutions with university and non-university partners

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21 GEWISS advisory board 21 21

22 GEWISS - Citizens create Knowledge German Citizen Science Capacity Building Programme Citizen Science Platform Dialogue forum, Networking, Advisory Board Scientific evaluation Opportunities & challenges / capacity & demand Development of Citizen Science resources Citizen Science guide, film, training workshops, web portal Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany

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24 GEWISS Thinktank/ Dialogue Fora

25 GEWISS Thinktank/ Dialogue Fora ,6, 9,

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27 Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany Green Paper Building on Dialogforum with > 400 particpants of 80 organisations; Workshops withleopoldina, ZBW, ZALF, ISOE, KIT, DBU, Europark etc

28 Vision In 2020 Citizen Science is an integral part of German society, with active co-design and co-production of research in science and society that is valued, rewarded and alive. a recognized, supported and regularly practiced approach to research. It brings innovation potential by integrating diverse knowledge pools and extensive involvement for the collection and analysis of large-scale data sets in space and time.

29 Vision In 2020 Citizen Science is a widely used approach in all areas of science, which also includes disadvantaged and marginalized groups in research processes, is well communicated to the public and is funded based on newly developed evaluation criteria. a reliable science approach with web-based infrastructures that support both quantitative and qualitative citizen science projects as a trusted and privacy-compliant environment.

30 Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany Recommendations develop a valued recognition culture for CS integrate codesign and coproduction in scientific processes foster networking and exchange improve quality of CS data establish analogue and digital infrastructures for CS open science sort legal issues in CS projects develop funding instruments provide training for CS and volunteer management strengthen theory and understanding of impact of Citizen Science enhance synergies with science communication integrate Citizen Science in education concepts

31 Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany- Green Paper Consultation Online Survey (added) value of Citizen Science Online Konsultation Visions, definitions, participation, innovation potential, CS in Germany, opportunities for action individuals (guest/registrierted users) Positionspapers Potential and challenges of CS Organisations

32 Online Konsultation- Kommunikation (Konsultationseite ansprechend und motivierend gestalten, Pilot Phase und Anpassung der Seiten) Pressemitteilung/ Social Media/ Newsletter - Einladungen/ Erinnerungen/ direkte Ansprache - Konferenzbeiträge/Workshopsessions/Gesprächsrunden - Flyer mit Einleger und Anzeiger in Zeitschrift - Multiplikatoren

33 Media Twitter (n=75) and Facebook (n=41) directy via consulation website

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35 Participation online consultation Stats visits visitors ( ~ 600 repeats) 105 registered users 396 comments (annotation+survey) Length of visit 5min / 8.min on repeat visit ~ 4 actions (page visits, downloads) Many downloads (222 x) Telephone calls with facilitators (UFZ staff)

36 Participation position paper

37 Motivation for Citizen Science CS has been of high relevance for natural sciences and natural history since centuries. Today it is about collaboration of experts within and outside academia Science...(is moving)...back to the centre of society Science and society have diverged and the crises and challenges of today show, that we need to take totally avenues Science for society and by society

38 Transformation of science through Citizen Science Online survey Why ist Citizen Science important for you? n= 42 Main focus of answers: Citizen Science ist important, because it can change Why, How, What and with Whom of science and research.

39 Change in science is needed, because because our future is important for all of us and innovation [ ] needs to be sustaibably clever " because citizens, when they participate, assess things more critically (than scientists) because science cannot know everything and the opinion of citizens is important

40 How should science be transformed? laymen should be able to pose own questions and work on them" experts of many different societal areas (work) together in scientific projects "

41 Who participates? relieve society from the position of onlookers and help to support them to become genuine knowledge producers

42 Citizen science and institutional science We would like to/ already conduct a CS project CS should only happen with involvement of a scientifc iinstitutions There is already good collaboration between science and society CS is important but has limits It is high time for cicil society to get involved in science Answers from scientific organisations (n= 27)

43 Citizen science and institutional science We would like to/ already conduct a CS project CS should only happen with involvement of a scientifc iinstitution There is already good collaboration between science and society CS is important but has limits It is high time for cicil society to get involved in science Answers from civic organisations (n=16)

44 Scientific literacy & empowerment Citizens... can see how much fun it is to create knowledge "... Doing science, creates a better understanding of science! "... science should be accessible to everyone..."

45 CS contribution to Innovation Opening and expanding (new) views and perspectives Evaluation of science and scientific findings Making use of social media for the matter of science Development of innovative technology and concepts for data collection, validation Integration and complementation of existing data Realization of personal and time-consuming research concepts with longitudinal and cross-sectional character Building trust between members of society and members of science through co production and networking

46 Development of Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany Process involving a diversity of actors, that have an interest in Citizen Science supported through an open, transparent consultation process... Focus on CS community so far Development towards White Paper and action framework

47 16. March

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