Traditionally, scientific research was mostly done by professors and other professionals with little input from the public. This means that only a few people decided research questions being asked and solutions being tested. And sometimes, those solutions do not always work well in the real world.
Citizen science takes the view that we are all citizens of the same planet, and each of us has unique lived experiences that can help create real solutions to important problems, like food waste.
Citizen science:
- Generates new knowledge and has a scientific outcome
- Is mutually beneficial for professional and volunteer scientist participants
- Makes data and findings available to the public
- Acknowledges participants in the project outputs
Because citizen science involves many people working together, it has the potential to collect a lot of data. This means a better understanding of the problem being studied. For example, the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count began in December 1900. With the help of citizen scientists, this ongoing research study has provided important data about how bird populations have changed in time and space, leading to strategies to protect birds and their habitats.