Citizen Science: Importance and Challenges

Science is a universal endeavour which is based on observations and its rational interpretation through an appropriate method (known as scientific method). Generally, scientific endeavour requires professional training to unravel the hidden enigmas, which requires a stepwise process with the help of professionals.

However, in some cases, non-professionals can provide raw information that can have a huge impact on scientific activity. Using raw scientific information from non-professionals to advance scientific research is known as Citizen Science (CS). In the science domain, CS is a practice of public collaboration in the scientific endeavour that aims to increase our understanding and knowledge about various scientific phenomena.

CS science is being acknowledged and appreciated in different domains and has significant potential to enhance our scientific knowledge about various phenomena. In this write-up, I would like to deliberate upon the importance of citizen science and some of the challenges faced by citizen science.

Generation of Ideas

One of the important aspects of science over the aeons has been to gather creative ideas from different sources. One can imagine how human civilization has seen the emergence of ideas, and then the transformation of these ideas into inventions. In the past, however, the pace of creativity and generation of ideas was so slow that some ideas remained untouched due to a lack of scientific outreach and public participation.

In the present era, the public shows great interest and enthusiasm towards science-related things and discusses many scientific issues in their private life. There are also connections and linkages between scientists and the general public, as science is reaching the doorsteps of the general public, thanks to current fast information technology. In this scenario, public participation in science affairs, especially in the process of idea generation is pivotal for the growth of science and its application.

Even vague and raw ideas from non-professionals can play a significant role in the development of extraordinary hypotheses. Well, before integrating the opinions of the general public into the scientific domain, mainstream scientists need to scale down their ego and try to accommodate even a silly idea from a layman. Public engagement in idea generation will help integrate science into mainstream society, bridging the gap between science and the public.

Getting science out of nature tours and outings

In recent years, the general public has shown a growing interest in nature, as reflected in social media updates about hiking, trekking, and nature tours. During these visits, people gather valuable information that can benefit science. Well, the primary objective of these nature outings has been recreation and nature watching; nevertheless, such engagements also motivate nature lovers to explore exciting natural phenomena and experience aspects of natural science. However, there is no collaboration between scientists and the general public to utilize this information for scientific purposes.

A sad part of the story is that we haven’t developed a basic scientific temper yet and still rely on myths, which is evident in the reports of nature lovers about their journeys. Another issue is that we don’t accept each other’s contributions and often suspect others’ input. Even if someone provides important scientific information for show-off, it should be acknowledged and appreciated.

That said, community tours and outings have great potential to provide valuable information to scientists, sometimes more so than laboratory work. For instance, scientists should approach non-professionals who trek unexplored areas to gather useful information about nature, ask key questions, and potentially use this information to design hypotheses, unravel scientific enigmas, or discover new findings.

Use of CS in Education and Outreach Goals

The innate ability of an amateur and a non-professional to guide the education system should be appreciated and welcomed in all education institutions. Previously, it was discouraged to include the non-professional in designing and framing of education policies, which stems from the fact that only scholars having professional training could guide better in the process of framing an advanced education system. However, due to fast communication facility and easy access to various knowledge domains, even non-professionals can advise in the matters of revamping the education system in a certain direction.

The role of CS in the community outreach programmes with the involvement of education institutions can build strong linkages that could benefit in the dissemination of scientific knowledge at the grassroots level. For instance, study of complex social structure in anthropology cannot be taught to students in the classrooms, instead CS can unravel these critical aspects in a better way. The idea of ‘Beyond Class Room’ teaching is another way of finding the role of non-professionals in the inculcation of scientific temper by using science stories that possess interesting ‘Science’ behind it. Another way is the formation of ‘Citizen Forums’ in towns and villages, where people can discuss science in their own way, and the best orators/presenters can be invited at the bigger stage (schools, college and Universities) to express their view point on a particular scientific topic.

Such endeavour will encourage citizens to express their innate scientific knowledge before the professional aspiring scientists. This exchange of science will help to bridge the gap that remained between layman and science for centuries, and pave the way for a better education system.

Ecological and Environmental Monitoring 

In the collection of large data sets (from large geographical regions) which are inaccessible to professional scientists, Citizen science could play a crucial role in getting important data for better interpretation of environmental/ecological issues. Involvement of the public in the data collection centralizes the monitoring efforts, and helps to carry out coordinated field studies which enables researchers to gather large data sets.

Keeping in view the importance of Citizen Science (CS), we need to understand that CS is not pseudo-science, rather it is the use of raw science for the large cause i.e., to unravel the unknowns that are sometimes difficult under mainstream science. Currently, the world is faced with multiple pressing issues which are difficult to combat, and there needs to be a holistic approach to find immediate solutions. In this connection, Citizen Science plays a crucial role to become a support system for mainstream science.

However, there are some loopholes which may hinder the integration of citizen science with professional science. Citizen science may advocate pseudoscience by explaining natural phenomena in an unscientific way, and in some cases the view of CS may conflict with mainstream science. CS may also discourage scientific debate which may lead to propagation of myths and other unscientific knowledge.

In short, Citizen Science has great value to scientists and various stakeholders within different scientific fields including ecological and environmental sciences. CS may help generate new ideas, integrate public participation in the development of education policy, help promote outreach goals and finally help in the development of the scientific ecosystem.

Dr. Ummer Rashid Zargar, Assistant Professor at Department of Zoology, GDC Dooru