Citizen Science

What is citizen science?

Citizen science is the English translation of the Slovenian term "Državljanska znanost", which means the active participation of the public in scientific research projects. The basic aim of citizen science is to offer every citizen the opportunity to actively participate in the various phases of the research process. In Slovenia, the following translations are commonly used: ljubiteljska znanost, občanska znanost, skupnostna znanost, ljubiteljska znanost ter participativna znanost. (source: https://citizenscience.si/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Brosura_online.pdf).

Citizen science is one of the approaches that have emerged from the participatory turn in research and innovation. This turn is usually motivated by the pursuit of various objectives, such as promoting democratisation and public participation in science and innovation, fostering scientific literacy, raising public awareness of scientific and technological issues or conducting research programmes with patterns and geographical scales that professional researchers alone could not achieve.

By participating in the scientific process as amateur scientists, amateurs have access to all the basic mechanisms of scientific knowledge, including those previously reserved for professional scientists, such as identifying research needs, developing research projects, formulating hypotheses, collecting data, interpreting research results and defining their scientific applications.

The socialisation of science

A key element defining citizen science as a potential tool for the socialisation of science arises from its basis in an observable social phenomenon, reflected to some extent in the willingness of the lay public to participate in the scientific process as stakeholders in relation to particular social or economic issues. This is usually due to a personal interest in certain topics (e.g. a love of nature and the observation of natural processes) or simply a love of science. Although there is a long tradition of lay participation in science (e.g. in disciplines such as astronomy or zoology), this trend is also spreading to other areas of science and is increasingly linked to tackling major societal challenges such as climate change, the transition to renewable energy and social inequality.

Scientific and educational value

Collaboration with amateur scientists enables researchers to collect extensive or hard-to-access data and to access traditional knowledge preserved by individual communities. It also provides the opportunity to interpret the results on this basis. In addition, citizen science has an important educational value, as it helps to increase participants' knowledge and interest in science while improving their skills such as responsibility, critical thinking and socio-economic problem solving (source: https://citizenscience.si/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Brosura_online.pdf).

10 principles of Citizen science

In 2015, the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) adopted the 10 principles of citizen science.

These principles were endorsed by Science Europe, thus confirming the credibility of the principles and of citizen science as a legitimate process in scientific research. (Source: https://citizenscience.si/obcanska-znanost/10-nacel-obcanske-znanosti/ )

Beginning of the path

The Step Change Citizen Science Navigator is a guide for researchers who want to involve the public or amateur scientists in the scientific research process. It builds on the experience of the Step Change project and aims to generalise and extend its findings to benefit researchers embarking on the citizen science pathway. (https://cs-navigator.stepchangeproject.eu/)

At national level, the Citizen Science Network in Slovenia brings together organisations, institutions and stakeholders active in the field of citizen science.

Important organisations for the promotion of citizen science in Europe:

International citizen science projects in which the University of Primorska is involved:

Citizen Science Initiative at University of Primorska

REGAlnica - REGIONAL CENSUS OF THE EUROPEAN TREE FROG (Hyla arborea)

REGAlnica is a regional census of the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) conducted in the Brkini, the Karst, and Slovenian Istria as a citizen science event, where participants, supported by experts, check for the presence of the species at known or former sites. It is important because it provides up-to-date data on the status and decline of the European tree frog, while also raising awareness of the need to preserve ponds and prevent the introduction of fish into breeding sites.

More (page 56) / More (page 38)

SEARCH FOR NON-NATIVE FLATWORMS IN SLOVENIA (download)

If you have encountered flatworms from the turbellaria group while gardening or engaging in other activities, please do not touch them (you can lift them with sticks), record your observation (take a photo and, if possible, catch it), and report your find to: ploskicrvi@upr.si,, via the Facebook group “Tujerodni ploski črvi v Sloveniji”,the form > HERE, or by landline (05 663 58 07; on weekdays).

STEP CHANGE: SRNA APPLICATION FOR MONITORING WILDLIFE ANIMALS (MORE)

The SRNA app helps recording the presence of selected wild mammal and bird species in Slovenia. In addition, the app includes a visual quiz to test mammal identification skills, a field guide to help with the recognition of animal species. It also enables communication with researchers. You can participate by downloading the app and starting to enter your animal sightings whenever you encounter them in nature, whether during a challenging climb or a walk in the woods!

DEVELOPMENT OF WOOD COMPOSITES WITH HIGHER IMPACT NOISE PROTECTION TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE (MORE)

Citizen researchers took part in a listening test in which they were exposed to impact noise and vibrations. Initial findings show that people can actually perceive loud impact sounds in objects as vibrations, which also makes these sounds more annoying. Based on these findings, it will be possible to improve the acoustic comfort of the living environment. You can participate by signing up for the test and sharing your impressions.

SERVITE MONASTERY – OLD MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN KOPER (MORE)

Today’s inhabitants of the Istrian-Karstic region know the Servite Monastery in Koper as the old maternity and pediatric hospital (between 1946 and 1997). People linked to the building - former employees, women in labour, those born there - can record their memories of the building in a memory book. First in a paper one, since 2024 also in an online one.

PROTECTION OF BRONZE MONUMENTS IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (MORE)

Bronze monuments develop different patinas depending on the substances used, rainwater and other environmental factors. To preserve these monuments for future generations, it is crucial to understand the processes of material decomposition. By collecting photographs from citizen researchers, scientists and restorers can better understand the wear of bronze and decide on the most appropriate method to preserve and protect cultural heritage. Thus, you can upload a photo on a dedicated webpage.

LOOKING FOR COWSLIPS (MORE)

Did you know that cowslips have two types of flowers and can only reproduce if pollen from one type of flower is transferred to the pistil of another? In nature, the ratio of the two flowers is supposed to be approximately the same, but a European study conducted in collaboration with citizen scientists has shown that this balance is disrupted in some areas, which may pose a local threat to the species.

Take photos of cowslips in nature and share them at: https://nurmenukk.ee/sl