Topics: Citizen Science

Catalog description

Citizen science, or “partnerships between scientists and non-scientists in which authentic data are collected, shared, and analyzed” (Jordan et al. 2012, p. 307) has become increasingly utilized for scientific research, credited for providing data across large spatial and temporal scales, promoting environmental awareness and scientific literacy, and potentially empowering and engaging local people in conservation (Toomey & Domroese 2013; Bonney et al. 2014; Stepenuck & Green 2015). As a result, environmental organizations across the world are activity incorporating citizen science research into their volunteer strategies, and using citizen science data to inform management decisions and influence environmental policy making. This course will take a detailed look at the history and evolution of citizen science, in particular with how it connects to the relationship between science and society and how it has evolved over time. It will examine the many different ways that people perceive and engage with science, particularly ecological science, through participatory research, boundary organizations, policies and laws. We will discuss concepts such as risk, vulnerability, and social-ecological resilience in order to explore different ways that urban, suburban, and rural communities relate to and engage with science. These are issues that are laden with power dynamics and inequalities, and course will deliberately seek to learn about the perspectives of women, minorities, and low-income communities who have spurred participatory science movements around the world.