adam – Citizen Science Today

Together towards a strategy for citizen science in Germany

Stefan Bernhard and Anett Richter — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:59 +0000

Summary of YouTube video: Presentation of the process involved for the development of a Green Paper Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany / Demonstration of the function and characteristics of dialogue forum, the contributions of the GEWISS project consortium and advisory board, processes and results of the online consultation and the position papers and the...

Citizen Scientists and Science Hobbyists: Educating the Life-Long Learner

M. Gail Jones, Gina Childers, Thomas Andre, Elysa Corin, and Rebecca Hite — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:56 +0000

Abstract: This study investigated STEM hobbyists, some who engaged in citizen science projects related to their hobby and some who did not, with the goal of understanding how science hobbies develop over the lifespan. One of the long-range goals of science education is to develop individuals who are knowledgeable about science concepts, processes and understand...

Editor’s Choice: From planning to motivations: citizen science comes to life

Emma Weitkamp — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:43 +0000

This introduction points to the second issue of the Journal of Science Communication’s special series on citizen science. The first had much of interest, and this looks like an interesting one too. — CJL — Abstract: This issue forms Part II of JCOM’s collection of articles and essays exploring the field of citizen science. Here...

Homogenizing effects of cities on North American winter bird diversity

Adeline C. Murthy, Trevor S. Fristoe, and Joseph R. Burger — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:42 +0000

Abstract: Urbanization is widespread throughout the United States and Canada. Studies at different scales have shown mixed consequences of urban areas for ecological communities and biodiversity. Here, we use geographic data on urban extent and survey data from the Christmas Bird Count to investigate the influence of urbanization on winter bird diversity over a continental...

Citizen science or scientific citizenship? Disentangling the uses of public engagement rhetoric in national research initiatives

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:39 +0000

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The language of “participant-driven research,” “crowdsourcing” and “citizen science” is increasingly being used to encourage the public to become involved in research ventures as both subjects and scientists. Originally, these labels were invoked by volunteer research efforts propelled by amateurs outside of traditional research institutions and aimed at appealing to those looking for more...

Crowdsourcing citizen science: exploring the tensions between paid professionals and users

G. Graham and J. Woodcoc — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:37 +0000

Abstract: This paper explores the relationship between paid labour and users within the Zooniverse, a crowdsourced citizen science platform. The user activities involve the collective categorisation of large datasets, mainly relating to images that cannot currently be analysed algorithmically. However, unlike other examples of micro-tasking, there is also the possibility for individual users to make...

Editor’s Choice: Citizen Science: Gamers help solve quantum questions

Cynthia Karena — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:35 +0000

This news piece overviews two games that engage citizen scientists in helping to develop quantum computing. I am partial to these projects because as a physicist, I have always been drawn in by the deep mysteries of quantum mechanics. And as a fun side note – as it turns out – for at least one of these...

To Sign Up, or not to Sign Up?

Caroline Jay, Robert Dunne, David Gelsthorpe, and Markel Vigo — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:35 +0000

Abstract: Many citizen science projects ask people to create an account before they participate – some require it. What effect does the registration process have on the number and quality of contributions? We present a controlled study comparing the effects of mandatory registration with an interface that enables people to participate without registering, but allows...

New report shows alarming state of North-American birds

Irene Lorenzo — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:30 +0000

Since the seventies, millions of North American birds have disappeared and a third of species are now of high regional conservation concern, a new report reveals. Experts agree that their long-term conservation will only be achieved by building transnational partnerships and involving local communities in citizen science projects. Migratory birds connect the North American continent as millions...

Towards a Genealogy of the Crowd in Crowdsourcing

Jérôme Baudry — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:00:28 +0000

Surfing through the wealth of websites offering opportunities to contribute to scientific research (the so-called “citizen science”), whether by lending computer processor time for distributed computing projects or by requesting an actual human contribution, such as classifying galaxies, one cannot but marvel at the diversity of the vocabulary used to refer to users. They can...