Citizen Science: Balancing civic engagement and scientific needs Conflict lines and potential solutions Dr. Eick von Ruschkowski International Annual Conference on the Participatory Researches, Citizen Sciences and Fab Labs December 12-16, 2016 | United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland Layout (Standardlayout): Titelfolie

Citizen Science – A Controversial Buzz Word? Environmental change and loss of biodiversity have accelerated. Combined efforts necessary to address these challenges: no proper management without data. Is citizen science second-rate science? (Certainly not! Look at the history of some scientific disciplines.) Is it more than providing cheap field research assistants? (Yes, but there a varying levels of citizen science or public participation in science.) Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Citizen Science – A Controversial Buzz Word? Unfortunately, debate (in Germany) about „proper“ citizen science is dominated by academia with an often depreciating tone towards citizen science. Why? A fear of too much public influence on how public money is being spent in research and academia? The fear of the unknown? Who are our “citizen scientists”? Foto: NPS/Glacier National Park Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Citizen Science – Why Collaboration is Key “Real” citizen science projects usually focus on local or regional issues of concern for which there is no research funding. NGOs have local networks of experts and volunteers. Volunteers bring intrinsic motivation! Local efforts provide the basis for meta data. Core challenge for the conservation community: the correlation between age, taxonomic knowledge, and digital affinity… Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Citizen Science – Why Collaboration is Key Citizen Science data supports scientific research that benefits society. Citizen Science benefits inter- and transdisciplinary science approaches. Conservation benefits from research which is based on valid and solid data. Problem: “free data” from volunteers does not come for free – the amount of resources needed for volunteer management are often rather underestimated. Science and civil society could create symbiotic benefits if dialogue at eye-level is initiated. „ Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Citizen Science – Let’s do it together Citizen Science Quality Criteria from a CSO perspective: Mutual respect for professional and non- professional scientists. Don’t over- or underestimate the potential that citizen science has. Data ownership and use is regulated. Volunteer coordination requires time and money – this has to be reflected in project and grant proposals! (What are the true costs of citizen science?) CSOs are usually the better volunteer managers. Fotos: British Museum of Natural History / Jutta Pfetzing (NABU Wehrheim) Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Ornithology Citizen Science Programs in Germany complex methods few participants simple methods many participants Online-Meldeplattformen: ornitho.de, 11.000 Nutzer naturgucker.de, 9.000 Nutzer Std. der Wintervögel Std. der Gartenvögel 60-90.000 TN Monitoring häufiger Brutvögel, >1.000 Kartierer ADEBAR-Atlas, 4000 Kartierer Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Bridging the gap Feasibility Study on “Living Atlas of Nature in Germany” (2015/16) Joint effort by environmental CSOs and science partners Objective: fathom the potential for biodiversity monitoring umbrella portal that integrates data and supports existing CSO activties Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Bridging the gap Issues at stake Data standards, management, copyright/ownership, data quality Appreciation of volunteer engagement Funding requirements, e.g. projects require long-term commitment vs. typical three year-funding cycles Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Conclusions Biodiversity monitoring is extremely complex and resource-intensive. Only joint efforts by government institutions, science, and civic engagement with their individual strengths will allow to reach CBD targets. Communication on eye-level and at eye- sight is requirement for success. Citizen Science provides opportunities, but also has limits (not all global problems will be solved based on it) Citizen Science and “professional” science may and should co-exist. Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

Thank you very much for your attention! Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski December 14, 2016

NABU- Bundesgeschäftsstelle Dr NABU- Bundesgeschäftsstelle Dr. Eick von Ruschkowski Charitéstraße 3 10117 Berlin Germany Tel. +49 (0)30.28 49 84- 1601 Fax +49 (0)30.28 49 84-20 00 Eick.vonRuschkowski@ NABU.de www.NABU.de Citizen Science – Eick von Ruschkowski Dienstag, 9. April 2019