Citizen science happens when members of the public get involved in scientific research. UNH Extension supports citizen science volunteers in efforts that promote healthy ecosystems, improve scientific research, and promote scientific thinking among youth and adults. Learn more about citizen science projects happening at UNH Extension.
Participatory science is a research method with the potential to expand and democratize research through collaborative investigations among scientists, community partners, and volunteers. New efforts at the University of New Hampshire led by UNH researchers, UNH-Extension, and NH Sea Grant staff will advance the use of this promising methodology through education, partnership development, professional development and scholarship. Explore ongoing participatory science projects.
Start here if you are looking for tools, guidance, and resources for planning a participatory science project.
If you are looking for examples of citizen & community sciences projects or if you are interesting in participating, use one of these searchable databases.
ECSA (European Citizen Science Association). 2015. Ten Principles of Citizen Science. Berlin. http://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/XPR2N
Citizen science is a flexible concept which can be adapted and applied within diverse situations and disciplines. The statements below were developed by the ‘Sharing best practice and building capacity’ working group of the European Citizen Science Association, led by the Natural History Museum London with input from many members of the Association, to set out some of the key principles which as a community we believe underlie good practice in citizen science.
Citizen science projects actively involve citizens in scientific endeavour that generates new knowledge or understanding. Citizens may act as contributors, collaborators, or as project leader and have a meaningful role in the project.
Citizen science projects have a genuine science outcome. For example, answering a research question or informing conservation action, management decisions or environmental policy.
Both the professional scientists and the citizen scientists benefit from taking part. Benefits may include the publication of research outputs, learning opportunities, personal enjoyment, social benefits, satisfaction through contributing to scientific evidence e.g. to address local, national and international issues, and through that, the potential to influence policy.
Citizen scientists may, if they wish, participate in multiple stages of the scientific process. This may include developing the research question, designing the method, gathering and analysing data, and communicating the results.
Citizen scientists receive feedback from the project. For example, how their data are being used and what the research, policy or societal outcomes are.
Citizen science is considered a research approach like any other, with limitations and biases that should be considered and controlled for. However unlike traditional research approaches, citizen science provides opportunity for greater public engagement and democratisation of science.
Citizen science project data and meta-data are made publicly available and where possible, results are published in an open access format. Data sharing may occur during or after the project, unless there are security or privacy concerns that prevent this.
Citizen scientists are acknowledged in project results and publications.
Citizen science programmes are evaluated for their scientific output, data quality, participant experience and wider societal or policy impact.
The leaders of citizen science projects take into consideration legal and ethical issues surrounding copyright, intellectual property, data sharing agreements, confidentiality, attribution, and the environmental impact of any activities.
