Title

Citizen ScienceMembers of the public engaging in authentic scientific investigations:

asking questions, collecting data, and/or interpreting results.

Flickr photo, sierraclub

Participation

… science

… individuals

… social-ecological systems

WHY??

Define a question/issue

Gather information

Develop explanations

Design data collection methods

Collect samples

Analyze samples

Analyze data

Interpret data/conclude

Disseminate conclusions

Discuss results/inquire further

Contributory Collaborative Co-CreatedDegree of participation

Bonney et al. 2009. CAISE Inquiry Group Report.

quality – whose interests are being served, and to what end?

how interests are balanced in a project’s design

degree – who participates, and in what?

extent of public involvement in the research process

Participation

Outcomes for:

Contributory Collaborative Co-Created

Science

+ ≈

Social-ecological systems

≈ +

Individuals

≈ +

Shirk et al. in press, Ecology and Society

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Depth of participant engagement and learning

Collaborations between large-scale projects and

local educators?

Learning as participation in activity

Curators

Creators

Critiquers

Observers

Documenters

Data Manipulators?

Story-tellers

Project design to allow fluidity:

•Access to data•Access to other participants•Access to project leaders

Vastness of participation possibility

Timing

SeasonalYear-round

User Commitment

One time ---------------- Casual -------------------Protocol driven

Observe and Monitor

Classify and Curate

Map-making

Picture/ Video/ Audio Collection

Conservation/ Management

Evangelizing

Specimen collection

Resource allocation

Analysis

Discourse

Vastness of participation possibility

Only limits besides imagination are:

Intended outcomes&

Institutional resources