Citizen Science: What is it?

The terms citizen science and citizen scientists entered the Oxford English Dictionary in June 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. Citizen science may be performed by individuals, teams, or networks of volunteers. Citizen scientists often partner with professional scientists to achieve common goals. Large volunteer networks often allow scientists to accomplish tasks that would be too expensive or time consuming to accomplish through other means. (Source: Wikipedia)

The first Christmas Bird Count in 1900 is usually accredited as being the first example of citizen science. What did it do right so that it has lasted so long?  Established rules that became protocol; birds observed within a 15 mile diameter circle. Protocol reduces variability: Inherent to what is being measured. Introduced by observers.  Involved a network of volunteers that followed the same protocol; the first CBS involved 27 individuals in 25 locations in the U.S. and Canada.  Repeated the process year after year; the 2014 CBC included a record 2,408 circles and 71,659 observers in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, and Pacific Islands.  The project has relevance.  People had fun and being outdoors regardless of the weather.

Much of the recent growth in citizen science projects, like the CBC, has been aided by the Digital Age. The ease of using computers has;  Broadened communications  Improved access to information.  Made entering data faster, cheaper, and quicker.  Enhanced sharing data with others.

In a research report published by the U.S. National Park Service, Brett Amy Thelen and Rachel K. Thiet mention the following concerns, previously reported in the literature, about the validity of volunteer-generated data:U.S. National Park Service  Some projects may not be suitable for volunteers, for instance when they use complex research methods or require arduous or repetitive work.  If volunteers lack proper training in research and monitoring protocols, they are at risk of introducing bias into the data.  Members may lie about data. This risk is even greater when bounties are awarded as an incentive to participate. One reason that some citizen scientists volunteer is to advance their political objectives.

An online comment to an article entitled Rise of Citizen Scientist in the August 18, 2015 issue of Nature: “Let us embrace, fund and encourage Citizen Science to provide the quality data sets we need for effective policy making and recognize that the motivation of citizens is no different to many others who collect data to advance their own arguments. What really matters is the scientific rigor behind the data collection methods and an understanding of the limitations of the data set, not the motivation of the participants.”