EDUcating Citizens and organisations in Citizen Science methodologies (EduCS)

We will pilot an approach to developing capacity in citizen science (CS) in two national organisations not normally engaged with CS. In particular, we will work closely with people from the BBC and the Met Office to design, launch and share with the general public a CS investigation about the effects of weather on communities. The focus and specific questions of this investigation will be decided in partnership with citizens from community and civic organisations through two workshops. We view citizens as active and creative agents within CS, capable of producing valuable solutions and taking part in evaluating them. Designing or taking part in CS activities can empower citizens and educate them in thinking scientifically. Two workshops will take place during which (a) we will define and pilot one CS investigation using nQuire - a platform that supports large-scale investigations and which was designed to scaffold learning and participation in all stages of scientific research; (b) we will enhance the functionality on nQuire to support this investigation, for example by visualizing weather related data, and support citizens in analysing and understanding data; and configure google analytics to capture learning and participation on nQuire; (c) we will identify areas for future investigations as informed by the interests of participating citizens and organisations. We will assess the impact of this approach on national organisations, selected citizens from community and civic organisations and the general public by documenting and analysing all workshop activities, interviewing involved participants, and collecting data from the nQuire investigation about what citizens may learn from participation in the investigation. We expect to have direct impact on involved organisations and community citizens by engaging them with hands-on CS activities including the design and piloting of an investigation. We also expect to achieve impact on a large-scale/nationally through reaching the general public via the BBC and other involved organisations.

EduCS is the pilot of an inclusive programme of work structured upon the unique integration of: (a) Citizen science (CS), (b) technology-enhanced participation, using a learning platform (nQuire.org.uk), and (c ) weather-related sustainability challenges. It capitalizes on citizens and enables them to actively engage and contribute to scientific issues using technology in relation to the effects of weather on communities. It shifts the emphasis of the CS paradigm from the scientists to the citizens by engaging the latter as co-researchers in identifying, setting up and piloting CS investigations and tools (through workshops). It also views CS as an inquiry approach that can bring up learning benefits to the general public, empower and educate citizens in thinking scientifically. EduCS will design, launch and evaluate an educationally sound CS investigation using nQuire, a web-based platform specifically designed to support informal science learning. To reach the general public and achieve impact on a large-scale, EduCS partnered with two national organisations, the BBC and the Met Office in order to develop their capacity and embed CS in their routine practices of how science is done. It builds on existing work with BBC (in designing nQuire and launching the Springwatch series) to develop CS capacity in the organisation through a partnership with the Met Office, the University of Birmingham, and direct engagement with citizens. The proposed project will enable CS capacity building in the BBC and the Met Office and establish a collaborative relationship through which future CS activities could develop for the benefit of organisations, the general public, and science.

EduCS will bring immediate benefits to (a) national organisations (BBC, Met Office), (b) citizens from civic and community organisations, (c) academics at the Open University and the University of Birmingham, generating new knowledge about how to collaborate and develop CS capacity in organisations as well as how to engage citizens as co designers in CS initiatives. In particular, EduCS will enhance our understanding of 1) how to identify, negotiate, design, and pilot CS investigations of benefit to science, citizens and national organisations, 2) how to develop capacity in designing CS investigations in national organisations, 3) how to enhance the scientific skills of citizens by engaging them in the process of designing a CS investigation, 4) how to achieve learning for public participation in CS activities, and 5) how to design, pilot and refine CS tools that effectively scaffold learning and empower citizens.