Improving a framework for evaluating participatory science

Abstract

This article proposes improvements to an open framework for evaluating participatory science, including projects framed as citizen science. An original proposed framework, while valuable in its comprehensiveness, used problematic language that makes it unworkable in many international contexts. In countries like Australia where Indigenous data sovereignty matters profoundly, language about ‘target groups’ and ‘easing access’ to knowledge can harmfully perpetuate colonial discourses. The original proposed framework is sufficiently useful that it is worth constructively revising, so critique in this article is aimed towards collaborative progression of an open framework more suitable for international use. As well as replacing ‘target groups’ with partnership approaches, we argue that ‘easing access’ to knowledge for exploitation is a frame perpetuating the colonial doctrine of discovery, proposing recovery as an alternative aligned with several international movements for social justice and sustainability.

Combining Outreach and Cross-sectional Research to Gather Children’s Soil Values in Aotearoa New Zealand: Protocol for the Mixed Methods Soilsafe Kids Program

“…Results of the citizen science metal testing of home garden soil, as per the Soilsafe Aotearoa’s own protocol, are only shared back to the citizen science participant and not the wider public. While this protocol is counter to many citizen science movements that are working toward “open” science, data, and access, the choice to manage data in this way was made because of the risks of this openness [ 34 ]—in this study, the politics and potential harmful effects of particular locations being labeled as “contaminated places.” Despite the plans to communicate this, there is awareness that some may choose not to participate, given the unequal impacts of this type of environmental monitoring, as well as the known reduced participation of more marginalized communities in community science due to limitations of time and resources and possible surveillance and engagement fatigue concerns among Indigenous communities [ 34 ].…”

Citizen Science for One Digital Health: A Rapid Qualitative Review of Studies in Air Quality with Reflections on a Conceptual Model

“…The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community study was framed around addressing air pollution of community concern, and in its effects on the whole environment. This decolonizing praxis enhanced community literacy, agency, and capacity, and followed an established institution-approved process as a transparent, ethically robust, indigenous community-controlled study (Rohlman et al 2019;Calyx and Finlay 2022). In these regards, it succeeds in the aspirations of a more holistic One Health approach more than many such non-digital projects.…”

“…The origins of the One Health concept, in preventing animal-human transmissible and communicable diseases and managing zoonoses, has limited its potential scope and application (Villanueva-Cabezas et al 2020). One Health still lacks an ethical framework (Johnson and Degeling 2019;Garnier et al 2020) and is challenged by its colonial, imperial, and military origins and affinities (Garnier et al 2020;Coghlan et al 2021;Calyx and Finlay 2022). Nevertheless, conscious of these historical debates, it is arguable that an ethical stance is still achievable and that the approach advances collective health (Johnson and Degling 2019).…”

Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters around Digital Health Technologies and Delivering Quality Healthcare

“…According to Ottinger [156], this ideally requires creating communities of practice that include citizen scientists and disaster-healthcare responders and actively connecting new digital platforms and information to existing infrastructures. There is a commensurate need to ensure equity and decolonizing practices to empower participating individuals and communities of practice with digital literacy, agency, and capacity [157]. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an example of an agency that has supported the design of an online toolkit for disaster preparedness, guiding communities and individuals on effectively implementing disaster citizen science projects [158].…”