Developing opportunities for in-depth citizen science using robotic telescopes

As the success of the Galaxy Zoo project (zoo1.galaxyzoo.org) has shown, astronomy is an ideal subject for citizen science, combining research questions that fascinate people and a vast wealth of data to be explored. However, such projects rely on very large numbers of people all contributing a relatively small amount, with limited access to the details of the scientific process that underlies the data gathering and final interpretation. We want to change that, and offer citizen science projects where the "citizens" get involved in the details of the science, and learn some of the data gathering and analysis skills that make scientific research so rewarding.

To do this Robotic Telescopes are key. These telescopes run autonomously and gather time-critical observations for many astronomers night after night. Using privileged access to the three main UK-run robotic telescopes projects (including the largest robotic telescopes in the world - telescope.livjm.ac.uk and www.faulkes-telescope.com), we will create tools and exemplar projects that will allow project participants to not only analyse archived data, but work on data taken just hours before, or perhaps even take observations using these high-tech instruments for themselves.

This will be a new style of Citizen Science - one where the citizens do not just support the science, but become the scientists.

The power of astronomy and space for Citizen Science (CS) has been well demonstrated, with pioneering projects like Galaxy Zoo (zoo1.galaxyzoo.org/). This power comes from two aspects of astronomical research - the fascination with the subject that many people feel, and the wealth of unexplored data available in archives and surveys. However, such projects only utilise a relatively narrow range of astronomical research, excluding those which are limited by the need for relatively in-depth analysis, often with a need for rapid turn-around.

The development of Robotic Telescopes has provided a way of gathering the time-critical data, but rapid analysis can still be a significant issue. Here we propose to develop a way to support citizens to provide that timely analysis. Not only will this be a significant support for researchers, but it will give the volunteers a much more rewarding role in the research, and help them to develop useful skills.

We propose to explore the feasibility of this in-depth approach and develop exemplar tools and support material. This will cover not just the analysis of data and how that supports the research, but look into the possibilities of (a) user-driven data gathering using the flexibility of robotic telescopes, (b) improving the experience for volunteers by giving them greater agency over the research, and (c) collaborative work between researchers and volunteers in both the proposed analysis and defining the future research questions that will arise.

This is a fundamental change in model for Citizen Science. Instead of relying on a very large number of participants all carrying out a (relatively menial) task and using statistical tools to isolate the usable results, we propose to support a smaller number of citizens, each of whom will have a significant role to play in the success of the project and also, potentially, defining the future direction of the research - turning citizens into true citizen scientists.

In a sense this project is all "Impact" - one of the most important benefits of Citizen Science is the sense of involvement and achievement it gives to the volunteers. However, this project will go somewhat further, giving the citizen scientists agency in working alongside the professional researcher to define the science question, create the methodology to answer it, and gather the data needed.

In addition participants will be able to develop or enhance key transferable skills such as data analysis, understanding and measuring uncertainties, graph plotting, collaboration and the way that science works.

By sharing the lessons learnt from the project, these impacts can be incorporated into many more Citizen Science projects.