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Citizen Science: Introduction

This guide provides case studies, resources and information on relevant events to support UCD staff, researchers, academics and students interested in citizen science.

What is Citizen Science?

Citizen Science encompasses a wide variety of activities and practices that recognises non-professionals as valued and empowered actors in advancing knowledge, research and innovation. (UCD’s publication Engage your Research : An Introductory Guide to Engaging& Involving the Public in Research)

 

Citizen science broadly refers to the active engagement of the general public in scientific research tasks. Citizen science is a growing practice in which scientists and citizens collaborate to produce new knowledge for science and society. (The Science of Citizen Science)

Citizen science can be described as the voluntary participation of non-professional scientists in research and innovation at different stages of the process and at different levels of engagement, from shaping research agendas and policies, to gathering, processing and analysing data, and assessing the outcomes of research. (European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, 2020)

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. ECSA (European Citizen Science Association). 2015. Ten Principles of Citizen Science. Berlin.

Citizen science is a global movement where individuals, family members, friends, community groups, or anyone does science to address real-world questions. (SciStarter)

Other Related Guides Available

UCD Citizen Science Community of Practice Events

 

 

Information and booking for: 

Creating an Online Story with ArcGIS StoryMaps 

 

Information and booking for: 

Mapping Green Dublin : pathways to community-led greening

 

UCD and Citizen Science

UCD’s publication Engage your Research : An Introductory Guide to Engaging

& Involving the Public in Research states:


“Citizen Science encompasses a wide variety of activities and practices that recognises non-professionals as valued and empowered actors in advancing knowledge, research and innovation.”

Ten Principles of Citizen Science

Contacts

 

The UCD Citizen Science Community of Practice is supported by UCD Library and UCD Earth Institute

 

Contact: Jane Nolan, UCD Library at: jane.nolan@ucd.ie

or Liz Bruton, UCD Earth Institute at: elizabeth.bruton@ucd.ie

Students, Staff and Members of UCD are invited to join the UCD Citizen Science Community of Practice