Beyond Data: Recognizing the Democratic Potential of Citizen Science

Abstract

Until Recently, The citizen science approach to knowledge production had been confined to scientific research, applied to a limited range of questions on which scientists and citizens could collaborate and trust each other. More recently, this approach has gained increasing attention from various quarters outside the traditional remit of professionalized science, which include local governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), professional networks, and cooperatives. These entities recognize citizen science as a practical method that harnesses the collective resources of a community to address pressing local concerns and promote a robust participatory democracy. Emerging initiatives include citizen observatories, data cooperatives, and collaboration platforms. Despite the growing popularity, managing citizen science initiatives (involving numerous participants over an extended period of time) poses considerable challenges. Leaders of citizen science initiatives grapple with difficulties that appear formidable to overcome. At present, the democratic potential of citizen science necessitates further development and scrutiny from social and political actors. Critics frequently underscore a disparity between the democratic ideals associated with citizen science and its current practical implementation. This article outlines the primary benefits and challenges associated with the democratization of citizen science. It builds from the empirical research of the ISEED project 1 as well as the theoretical contribution of the Right to the Smart City project 2 and formulates 10 key recommendations to citizen science project leaders.