Dr Heather Sugden1, Dr Jane Delany1, Dr Danielle Robinson1
1Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
In recent decades, citizen science, the active involvement of non-scientists in scientific research, has emerged as a powerful and cost-effective means of generating extensive ecological data sets across a multitude of ecosystems. Involvement in such projects can increase environmental stewardship as participants develop a greater appreciation of natural environments and can enhance participant wellbeing through mental stimulation, social interaction, and improved fitness. In the marine realm, temperate reefs provide a tractable and accessible system for citizens to participate in scientific research. Citizen science is generally categorized into three practices: contributory, collaborative or co-created. Contributory and collaborative projects are described as those that are designed by scientists. Co-creation is the most participatory of the three models, where citizens and scientists work together to define the problem, outline the research needed, and follow the scientific process together. Here, we present a framework for the co-creation of citizen science projects based on working with diverse communities in temperate reef systems. Through this active hands-on approach, we raise awareness towards empowering communities and fostering working partnerships between citizens and scientists. We draw on inclusivity and adaptation to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from the process, and we discuss the challenges inherent in undertaking such an approach.
Presentation Slides – Heather Sugden
Biography:
Dr. Heather Sugden is a marine ecologist investigating the responses of benthic communities to anthropogenic impacts including multiple stressors, biogeographic range shifts and long-term change. She matches this research with citizen science projects involving communities in the stewardship and ownership of marine environments and has recently been working on developing a framework for engaging diverse communities in methods to co-create citizen science projects.
