Engagement and Communication Features of Scientifically Successful Citizen Science Projects

Golumbic, Yaela; Baram‐Tsabari, Ayelet; Koichu, Boris

doi:10.1080/17524032.2019.1687101

Cited by 24 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Towards an interrelated citizen science -science communication practice. Citizen science projects encompass many science communication practices which include engaging non-scientists in science, explaining scientific terms and disseminating scientific findings [Constant and Roberts, 2017;Golumbic, Baram-Tsabari and Koichu, 2019]. This notion is exemplified in this study which combines citizen science practices (air quality monitoring) with science communication practices (facilitating the dissemination of air quality information).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Engagement styles in an environmental citizen science project

Golumbic¹,

Baram‐Tsabari²,

Fishbain³

2020

JCOM

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This paper identifies the diverse ways in which participants engage with science, through the same citizen science project. Using multiple data sources, we describe various activities conducted by citizen scientists in an air quality project, and characterize the motivations driving their engagement. Findings reveal several themes, indicative of participants motivations and engagement; worried residents, education and outreach, environmental action, personal interest and opportunistic engagement. The study further illustrates the interconnectivity between science communication and citizen science practices and calls for nurturing this relationship for the mutual advancement of both fields.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While some projects direct themselves towards specific audiences and existing communities [e.g. Golumbic, Baram-Tsabari and Koichu, 2019], others provide opportunities for multiple audiences with diverse needs and levels of participation [e.g. Haklay, 2013].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engagement styles in an environmental citizen science project

Golumbic¹,

Baram‐Tsabari²,

Fishbain³

2020

JCOM

Self Cite

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“…An important outcome of this method is education and engagement with citizen science volunteers. We sought to understand reasons for volunteer participation in order to better host noise monitoring events in the future and meet expectations of current participants [40,41]. During the week following each citizen science event, we sent each volunteer a follow-up survey via email (S3 File).…”

Section: Post-event Survey Of Citizen Science Volunteersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we examine the potential for single-day citizen science events to provide a venue for volunteers to learn more about noise pollution and to become custodians of the data they collect and their local environments [40]. Single-day, concentrated monitoring efforts with immediate products provide the opportunity for researchers and participants to work closely and collaboratively throughout the data collection and dissemination process, a practice that has been shown to help maintain engagement and enthusiasm of volunteers [40,41]. Through the course of teaching volunteers how and why we monitor noise, monitoring noise, and then presenting them with the resulting noise maps, we aim to show citizen scientists how their efforts can inform positive changes in spaces of concern [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen scientists and university students monitor noise pollution in cities and protected areas with smartphones

2020

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Noise pollution can cause increased stress, cognitive impairment and illness in humans and decreased fitness and altered behavior in wildlife. Maps of noise pollution are used to visualize the distribution of noise across a landscape. These maps are typically created by taking a relatively small number of sound measurements or simulated on the basis of theoretical models. However, smartphones with inexpensive sound measuring apps can be used to monitor noise and create dense maps of real-world noise measurements. Public concern with noise can make monitoring noise pollution with smartphones an engaging and educational citizen science activity. We demonstrate a method utilizing single-day citizen science noise mapping events and a university lab to collect noise data in urban environments and protected areas. Using this approach, we collected hundreds of noise measurements with participants that we used to create noise maps. We found this method was successful in engaging volunteers and students and producing usable noise data. The described methodology has potential applications for biological research, citizen science engagement, and teaching.

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“…Public engagement with science encompasses the spectrum of intentional, meaningful interactions that provide opportunities for mutual learning between scientists and members of the public. Whereas scientific outreach to the public is common in non-public facing disciplines ( Fig 1 ); public involvement in science ( Box 1 ), which entails collaborations between professional scientists and members of the public who are directly involved in a scientific research project, is far less common [ 21 , 22 ]. The provision of information (outreach) is a necessary aspect of publicly engaged research but is often emphasized at the expense of listening to, acknowledging and incorporating the interests of the public [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From intent to implementation: Factors affecting public involvement in life science research

Burns

Holden

Korzec³

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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Public involvement is key to closing the gap between research production and research use, and the only way to achieving ultimate transparency in science. The majority of life science research is not public-facing, but is funded by the public and impacts communities. We undertook an exploratory survey of researchers within the life sciences to better understand their views and perceived challenges to involving the public in their research. As survey response rate could not be determined, interpretation of the results must be cautious. We had a valid response cohort of n = 110 researchers, of whom 90% were primarily laboratory based. Using a mixed methods approach, we demonstrate that a top-down approach is key to motivate progression of life scientists from feeling positive towards public involvement to actually engaging in it. Researchers who viewed public involvement as beneficial to their research were more likely to have direct experience of doing it. We demonstrate that the systemic flaws in the way life sciences research enterprise is organised, including the promotion system, hyper-competition, and time pressures are major barriers to involving the public in the scientific process. Scientists are also apprehensive of being involuntarily involved in the current politicized climate; misinformation and publicity hype surrounding science nowadays makes them hesitant to share their early and in-progress research. The time required to deliberate study design and relevance, plan and build relationships for sustained involvement, provide and undertake training, and improve communication in the current research environment is often considered nonpragmatic, particularly for early career researchers. In conclusion, a top-down approach involving institutional incentives and infrastructure appears most effective at transitioning researchers from feeling positive towards public involvement to actually implementing it.

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Engagement and Communication Features of Scientifically Successful Citizen Science Projects

Cited by 24 publications

References 56 publications

Engagement styles in an environmental citizen science project

Engagement styles in an environmental citizen science project

Citizen scientists and university students monitor noise pollution in cities and protected areas with smartphones

From intent to implementation: Factors affecting public involvement in life science research

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