Citizen science at informal science education institutions workshop slides

Why Citizen Science in
Science Centers?

Jennifer Shirk and Rick Bonney
Program Development & Evaluation


What is Citizen Science/
Public Participation in Research?

Organized research in which members of the
public—who may or may not be trained in
science—are involved in one or more steps of
the research process

2 Program Development & Evaluation

Early Citizen Science “projects”

Lighthouse Surveys, 1880 Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1889

NWS Cooperative NAS Christmas
Observer Program, Bird Count,
1890 1900


Public Participation in Scientific Research


Models of PPSR Contributory Collaborative Co-Created

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
Bonney et al. 2009. CAISE Inquiry Group Report.

Citizen science learning outcomes
engage critical thinking
(Trumbull et al 2000)

science learning, bonding
(Kountoupes and Oberhauser 2008)

environmental action; social networks
(Overdevest et al. 2004)

social capital
(Ballard 2008)

improved policy
(Wing et al. 2008)


Citizen science research outcomes
documenting range shifts
(Bonter et al. unpublished data)

identifying potential mismatches
(Batalden et al. 2007)

identifying vulnerable species
(Crimmins et al 2008, 2009)

health planning
(Levetin and Van de Water 2008)

anticipating effects on water sources
(e.g., CoCoRaHS)


What Citizen Science Can Do
for Science Centers


Ready-made programming


Family activities

Photo, MLMP photo gallery


Connecting on-site and at-home experiences

Flickr photo, sierraclub

Flickr photo, 900hp


Integrating technology and learning

Phylo:


Bringing alive the “science” in science centers


What Science Centers Can Do
for Citizen Science


Enhance detectability


Address variability over time


Understanding local issues/trends

PublicLaboratory.org


Engaging new audiences


Interpreting data locally


Case Study Collaboration


Sciencenter
Ithaca, New York

NestWatch
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Getting Started
with Citizen Science



CitizenScience.org

Citizen science,
volunteer
monitoring,
participatory action
research... this site
supports organizers
of initiatives where
public participants
are involved in
scientific research.


Toolkit “Steps”


Citizen Science


Determine audience

• Urban, suburban, rural?

• Youth, adults, retirees, families?

• Museums, summer camps,
nature centers, afterschool
programs, libraries, retirement
homes, church groups,
community centers?


Choose scientific question

• What is the distribution of birds at
North American feeders?

• How do clutch sizes of Eastern Bluebirds
vary with latitude?

• What is the effect of forest
fragmentation on North American
tanagers?

• Do fake cats keep birds away from
feeders?


Develop team:
scientist/educator/technologist/evaluato
r
Must work in true
partnership to ensure
both scientific and
educational project
integrity


Develop and test protocols
• Must ensure collection of
useful data (scientist)

• Must be easy for participants to
understand and follow
(educator)


Recruit participants

• Advertisements
• Press Releases
• Direct mail
• Group leaders
• Partnerships
• Email lists
• Listservs


Train participants
• Research Kits
• Online support
• Group leaders
• Teachers


Accept data/ensure data quality

• Paper forms
• Scannable forms
• Electronic forms
• “Smart” forms


Make data available

Requires
sophisticated
technological
infrastructure


Analyze and interpret data

Inc.
Acid
Ion
Dep.

Pattern of Pattern of Acid
Wood Thrush Ion Deposition
Decline

Publish results
• Scientific journals
•Publications for participants
• Popular articles
• Reports to government agencies
• Management guidelines


Measure impacts

• Scientific knowledge
• Scientific literacy
• Conservation action


Deliberate design

Shirk et al. submitted, Ecology & Society


Contributory Collaborative Co-Created
Outcomes for:

Science Data precision and Intermediate
accuracy high expectations of data
precision and
accuracy

Social- Decision-making High potential for
slow to result prompt decision-
ecological making
systems

Individuals Low potential for High potential for
enhancing enhancing
stakeholder stakeholder
capacities capacities

Bonney et al. 2009; Danielsen et al. 2009

Starting with the End in Mind



Science centers: “I am able to work with
this kind of programming because it...
Other
Is supported by partner
institutions
Is supported by external funding Identify the
Addresses regional or national
topics of interest outcomes
Addresses the needs and interests
of the local community
Fits well with our institutional
that you
priorities
Fits well with our departmental
need to
priorities
Fits well with the needs of a target achieve.
audience
Has a direct connection to my
institution's programming
Has a direct connection to my
institution's exhibits
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45


Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes Impacts

Project team Choose a question Experiences Increased
(scientists, supp with science content and Enhanced
ort research process scientific and
staff, educators, Design a study process knowledge civic literacy

evaluators, tech Increased
nologists) Data collection Data Improved
engagement
and reporting science-society
Participant
time, knowledge New skills relationships
, skills, interests Analyze and and activities
, motivation interpret data Experiences Appreciation for
with scientific science and
Share and act on content and Enhanced
Infrastructure natural world science
results environmental
for research and
context
recruitment, trai Environmental knowledge
Ask new questions
ning, and action
support

Phillips et al. in press


Potential Measures of
Impact?
•Awareness, knowledge, or
understanding

•Engagement or interest
Alan J. Friedman, editor •Skills
12 March 2008
•Attitudes

•Behaviors

•Other


KNOWLEDGE
• Content? (bird migration)
• Process? (data are collected and analyzed)
• Careers? (you can be an ornithologist and become rich and
famous)
• Community? (people are watching and enjoying birds all
around you)


Increase engagement
ENGAGEMENT
• Content? (develop bird migration maps)
• Process? (collect data)
• Careers? (become an intern)
• Community? (attend a community event)


SKILLS

• Ask testable questions and
design studies?
• Collect accurate data?
• Analyze and interpret data?


ATTITUDES

• Toward science? (science can be fun)
• About species? (learn to love pigeons)
• About careers? (I’d like to be an ornithologist when I grow up)
• About people? (It’s fun to collect data with others)


Change behaviors
BEHAVIOR
• Toward science? (participate in project over time)
• About the outdoors? (spend more time outdoors watching
birds)
• About community? (Attend community meetings)
• Regarding responsibility? (recycling)


Matrix for describing impacts of PPSR
NSF Impact Category PPSR Subcategory

Knowledge, Awareness,  Science Content (Concepts)  Nature of science
 Science Process  Scientific Careers
understanding of

Engagement or interest in:  Content (concepts)  Scientific Community
 Scientific Careers  Project/activity

 Nature/environment  Science Process

Skills  Asking Questions  Evaluating Results
 Study Design  Using Technology

 Data Collection, Analysis  Writing

Submission, Interpretation,

Attitudes Toward  Science Enterprise  Scientific Community
 Science Content/theories  Scientific Careers

 Project activities  Nature/environment

Behaviors  Lifestyle changes  Environmentally
 Community involvement responsible behavior
 Citizen action  New engagement/

participation

Other  Social capital  Economic impacts
 Community capacity  Artistic Expression


DEVISE
•Improve quality and practice of evaluations
across the field of citizen science

Aligning goals & objectives
Developing logic models
Database of tested scales
Case study evaluations
Tutorials & resources
Support & consultation
Research on learning


Extensions and New Directions



Data interpretation

gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/results

Social Networking


Dialog
Hosting challenging conversations
(e.g., about climate change or in other contexts of risk)

(Leiserowitz 2006)

Rational Emotional
Analytical Value-based
Cognitive Affective


Resources for Individual Research


Citizen science at informal science education institutions workshop slides

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