Birding, Citizen Science, and Wildlife Conservation in Sociological Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cherry
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Sociological Perspective ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Nonhuman Animals ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract Sociological research on wildlife typically looks at how nonhuman animals in the wild are hunted, poached, or captured for entertainment, or how they play a symbolic role in people’s lives. Within sociology, little research exists on how people appreciate nonhuman animals in the wild, and how people contribute to wildlife conservation. I explore birding-related citizen science projects in the US. Citizen science refers to scientific projects carried out by amateurs. Literature on citizen science focuses on the perspective of professional scientists, with the assumption that only professional scientists are concerned with the quality of data from citizen science projects. The research showed birders share this skepticism, but they still find satisfaction in participating in citizen science projects. This paper contributes to sociological understandings of wildlife conservation by showing how birders’ participation in citizen science projects helps professional scientists study environmental problems such as climate change and its effects on wildlife.

scholarly journals Cloud-based Software Platforms for Citizen Science: Implications and opportunities for biodiversity standards

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Brenton
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Metadata Standards ◽  
Software Platforms ◽  
Functional Software ◽  
The Cost

Whether community created and driven, or developed and run by researchers, most citizen science projects operate on minimalistic budgets, their capacity to invest in fully featured bespoke software and databases is usually very limited. Further, the increasing number of applications and citizen science options available for public participation creates a confusing situation to navigate. Cloud-based platforms such as BioCollect, iNaturalist, eBird, CitSci.org, and Zooniverse, provide an opportunity for citizen science projects to leverage highly featured functional software capabilities at a fraction of the cost of developing their own, as well as a common channel through which the public can find and access projects. These platforms are also excellent vehicles to facilitate the implementation of data and metadata standards, which streamline interoperability and data sharing. Such services can also embed measures in their design, which uplift the descriptions and quality of data outputs, significantly amplifying their usability and value. In this presentation I outline the experiences of the Atlas of Living Australia on these issues and demonstrate how we are tackling them with the BioCollect and iNaturalist platforms. We also consider the differences and similarities of these two platforms with respect to standards and data structures in relation to suitability for different use cases. You are invited to join a discussion on approaches being adopted and offer insights for improved outcomes.

scholarly journals Reliability of Data Collected by Volunteers: A Nine-Year Citizen Science Study in the Red Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Meschini ◽  
Mariana Machado Toffolo ◽  
Chiara Marchini ◽  
Erik Caroselli ◽  
Fiorella Prada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Reliable Data ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Mass Tourism ◽  
Science Approach ◽  
Citizen Science Project ◽  
Professional Volunteers

The quality of data collected by non-professional volunteers in citizen science programs is crucial to render them valid for implementing environmental resources management and protection plans. This study assessed the reliability of data collected by non-professional volunteers during the citizen science project Scuba Tourism for the Environment (STE), carried out in mass tourism facilities of the Red Sea between 2007 and 2015. STE involved 16,164 volunteer recreational divers in data collection on marine biodiversity using a recreational citizen science approach. Through a specifically designed questionnaire, volunteers indicated which of the seventy-two marine taxa surveyed were observed during their recreational dive, giving an estimate of their abundance. To evaluate the validity of the collected data, a reference researcher randomly dived with the volunteers and filled in the project questionnaire separately. Correlation analyses between the records collected by the reference researcher and those collected by volunteers were performed based on 513 validation trials, testing 3,138 volunteers. Data reliability was analyzed through 7 parameters. Consistency showed the lowest mean score (51.6%, 95% Confidence Interval CI 44.1–59.2%), indicating that volunteers could direct their attention to different taxa depending on personal interests; Percent Identified showed the highest mean score (66.7%, 95% CI 55.5–78.0), indicating that volunteers can correctly identify most surveyed taxa. Overall, results confirmed that the recreational citizen science approach can effectively support reliable data for biodiversity monitoring, when carefully tailored for the volunteer skills required by the specific project. The use of a recreational approach enhances massive volunteer participation in citizen science projects, thus increasing the amount of sufficiently reliable data collected in a reduced time.

Promoting scientific literacy in Evolution through citizen science

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Brandt ◽  
Quentin John Groom ◽  
Alexandra Magro ◽  
Dule Misevic ◽  
Claire Louisa Narraway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
Essential Prerequisite

Evolutionary understanding is central to biology as a whole. It is also an essential prerequisite to understanding issues in everyday life, such as advances in medicine and global challenges like climate change. Yet, evolution is generally poorly understood by civil society and many misconceptions exist. Citizen science, which has been increasing in popularity as a means to gather new data and promote scientific literacy, is one strategy through which people can learn about evolution. Despite the potential for citizen science to promote evolution learning opportunities, very few citizen science projects exist to improve scientific literacy in evolution. In this paper, we make the case for incorporating evolution education into citizen science, define key learning goals in the context of evolution, and suggest opportunities for designing and evaluating citizen science projects in order to promote scientific literacy in evolution.

Can Citizen Science Seriously Contribute to Policy Development?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1726-1741
Author(s):  
Colin Chapman ◽  
Crona Hodges
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Evidence Based Policy ◽  
Data Gaps

This chapter considers the potential for citizen science to contribute to policy development. A background to evidence-based policy making is given, and the requirement for data to be robust, reliable and, increasingly, cost-effective is noted. The potential for the use of ‘co-design' strategies with stakeholders, to add value to their engagement as well as provide more meaningful data that can contribute to policy development, is presented and discussed. Barriers to uptake can be institutional and the quality of data used in evidence-based policy making will always need to be fully assured. Data must be appropriate to the decision making process at hand and there is potential for citizen science to fill important, existing data-gaps.

scholarly journals Citizen Science, Plant Species, and Communities’ Diversity and Conservation on a Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9925
Author(s):  
Maria Panitsa ◽  
Nikolia Iliopoulou ◽  
Emmanouil Petrakis
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Knowledge ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Web Based

Citizen science can serve as a tool to address environmental and conservation issues. Ιn the framework of Erasmus+ project CS4ESD, this study focuses on promoting the importance of plants and plant species and communities’ diversity by using available web-based information because of Covid-19 limitations and concerning the case study of Olympus mountain Biosphere Reserve (Greece). A questionnaire was designed to collect the necessary information, aiming to investigate pupils’ and students’ willing to distinguish and learn more about plant species and communities and evaluate information found on the web. Pupils, students, and experts participated in this study. The results are indicative of young citizens’ ability to evaluate environmental issues. They often underestimate plant species richness, endemism, plant communities, the importance of plants, and ecosystem services. They also use environmental or plant-based websites and online available data in a significantly different way than experts. The age of the young citizens is a factor that may affect the quality of data. The essential issue of recognizing the importance of plants and plant communities and of assisting for their conservation is highlighted. Education for sustainable development is one of the most important tools that facilitates environmental knowledge and enhances awareness.

scholarly journals Panorama dos principais estudos sobre ciência cidadã

ForScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e01030
Author(s):  
Diny Gabrielly de Miranda Martins ◽  
Eloisa Helena de Souza Cabral
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Made In

Neste artigo, são analisados os objetos de estudo das principais pesquisas sobre ciência cidadã publicadas nos últimos cinco anos. Realizou-se uma busca na base de dados internacional Web of Science por artigos científicos publicados nos anos de 2016 a 2020 e com um número mínimo de 40 citações. Foram encontrados 31 artigos científicos internacionais que tratam de conceitos teóricos, aplicações e contribuições da Ciência Cidadã, abordam implicações éticas e sociais no recrutamento dos voluntários e a motivação desses cidadãos não cientistas para participarem de projetos de Ciência Cidadã e, ainda, avaliam a qualidade dos dados coletados. A pesquisa realizada pode contribuir para a academia, servir de base teórica para o tema da Ciência Cidadã e ser motivante para que os docentes conheçam e se utilizem de iniciativas nos diversos campos do conhecimento como abordagem no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Palavras-chave: Ciência cidadã. Participação. Não cientistas.   Overview of main studies on citizen science Abstract This article analyzes the objects of study of the main researches on citizen science published in the last five years. A search was made in the international Web of Science database for scientific articles published in the years 2016 to 2020 and with a minimum number of 40 citations. Thirty-one international scientific articles were obtained that deal with the theoretical concepts, applications and contributions of citizen science. They also address the ethical and social implications of recruiting volunteers and the motivation of these non-scientist citizens to participate in citizen science projects, and also assess the quality of the data collected. The research carried out can contribute to the academy, serving as a theoretical basis on the theme of citizen science and be motivating for teachers to know and use citizen science initiatives in different fields of knowledge as an approach in the teaching-learning process. Keywords: Citizen Science. Participation. Non-scientist.

Can Citizen Science Seriously Contribute to Policy Development?

2017 ◽  
pp. 246-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Chapman ◽  
Crona Hodges
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Evidence Based Policy ◽  
Data Gaps

This chapter considers the potential for citizen science to contribute to policy development. A background to evidence-based policy making is given, and the requirement for data to be robust, reliable and, increasingly, cost-effective is noted. The potential for the use of ‘co-design' strategies with stakeholders, to add value to their engagement as well as provide more meaningful data that can contribute to policy development, is presented and discussed. Barriers to uptake can be institutional and the quality of data used in evidence-based policy making will always need to be fully assured. Data must be appropriate to the decision making process at hand and there is potential for citizen science to fill important, existing data-gaps.

scholarly journals Quality criteria catalogue for citizen science projects on Österreich forscht – Questionnaire for project managers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Heigl ◽  
Daniel Dörler ◽  
Pamela Bartar ◽  
Robert Brodschneider ◽  
Marika Cieslinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Criteria Catalogue ◽  
Project Participants ◽  
Open Dialogue ◽  
One Year

In the course of one year the working group for quality criteria of the Citizen Science Network Austria developed a catalogue of criteria for citizen science projectson the platform Österreich forscht. From this catalogue questions were generated, which should help the project leaders of projects in Austria to fulfil the criteria. By answering the questions, important topics are addressed during the implementation of a project and can thus also be considered by the project management. On the other hand, the answers help potential project participants to make an informed decision about participation on the basis of the information presented.Project leaders receive this catalogue of questions and send the answers back to Österreich forscht. The platform coordinators read the answers, consult with the Working Group for Quality Criteria if necessary and contact the project leaders in case of ambiguities for clarification and possible assistance. The aim of this processis not to exclude individual projects, but to jointly ensure the quality of the citizen science characteristics of the projects and eventually even increase them. An open dialogue and exchange and a respectful interaction between all participants is the prerequisite for this.

Can we use citizen science to upscale soil data collection?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Schneider ◽  
Susanne Döhler ◽  
Luise Ohmann ◽  
Ute Wollschläger
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Tea Bag Index ◽  
Scientific Project

<p>Citizen science approaches are still relatively rare in soil sciences. However, the Tea Bag Index (TBI) has been successfully implemented in projects all over the world.</p><p>Our citizen science project “Expedition ERDreich – Mit Teebeuteln den Boden erforschen” (EE) aims to upscale open soil data by applying the TBI as well as other soil assessment methods all over Germany. Beside the strong focus on creating awareness for soils and its functions we want to answer the following questions:</p><ol><li> <p>Is it possible to upscale citizen science projects to obtain large quantities of open soil data?</p> </li> <li> <p>Are soil datasets from citizen science projects of sufficient quality to be used in soil science and for soil modeling?</p> </li> </ol><p>The project will combine aspects of co-production as well as environmental education. Co-production means, soil data will individually be compiled by citizen scientists with the support of a team of scientists from a network of project partners. While conducting various soil assessments and experiments participating citizen scientists will be given background information and guidance meant to educate and to raise awareness about soils and soil quality.</p><p>We are aiming to involve a broad spectrum of citizens from various backgrounds, for example school children, students, farmers, forest owners, gardeners, municipal administrations, and of course soil scientists.</p><p>Within the project citizen scientists will submit turnover data from their location, together with information on the sampling sites, as well as information on soil properties like pH value, soil texture, and soil color. This information will be complemented with climatic and geo-scientific co-variables by the scientific project team.</p><p>So far we identified the following main challenges:</p><ul><li> <p>How can citizens from various backgrounds and in various geographical locations be addressed and involved in the project?</p> </li> <li> <p>How do we get high quality soil data while still teaching soil awareness?</p> </li> <li> <p>How do we address the complexity of soils in soil education?</p> </li> <li> <p>How do we manage the quality of data and identify potential errors?</p> </li> <li> <p>How do we communicate data management procedures to keep the project as transparent as possible?</p> </li> <li> <p>What and how can we give back an added value to citizen scientists?</p> </li> </ul><ul><li> <p>How do we involve citizen scientists in the scientific progress beyond collecting data and beyond the current projects timeframe?</p> </li> </ul>

scholarly journals Next-generation ultrasonic recorders facilitate effective bat activity and distribution monitoring by citizen scientists

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piia Lundberg ◽  
Melissa Meierhofer ◽  
Ville Vasko ◽  
Miina Suutari ◽  
Ann Ojala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
Science Projects

Time and budgetary resources are often a limiting factor in the collection of large-scale ecological data. If data collected by citizen scientists were comparable to data collected by researchers, it would allow for more efficient data collection over a broad geographic area. Here, we compare the quality of data on bat activity collected by citizens (high school students and teachers) and researchers. Both researchers and citizen scientists used the same comprehensive instructions when choosing study sites. We found no differences in total bat activity minutes recorded by citizens and researchers. Instead, citizen scientists collected data from a wider variety of habitats than researchers. Involvement of citizens also increased the geographical coverage of data collection, resulting in the northernmost documentation of the Nathusius pipistrelle so far in Finland. Therefore, bat research can benefit from the use of citizen science when participants are given precise instructions and calibrated data collection equipment. Citizen science projects also have other far-reaching benefits, increasing, for example, the scientific literacy and interest in natural sciences of citizens. Involving citizens in science projects also has the potential to enhance their willingness to conserve nature.

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