Citizen Science: Promoting Active Citizenship

- Biba Jasmine

Citizen science allows citizens to use opportunities, provide inspirational, immersive experiences that challenge individuals and transform mindsets. It is done to connect them with the larger researcher fraternity to observe more of natural phenomena around and tap into an alternative means of research on a specific topic. The voluntary data collected is used to build our understanding of how our planet is getting impacted and how can sound decisions be made based on current natural and social trends. This way of research also helps learn about a specific environmental challenge and helps in joining the dots, globally, connecting people in a worldwide environmental Plastics floating in the seas, Courtesy: IUCN movement.

Citizen Science: A Discipline in Its Own Right

Today, various scientific disciplines are enhancing the innate curiosity within people. People want to contribute their bit in collecting and/or analysing data, as well as contributing to scientific studies in different ways. This, essentially, is called citizen science. Simply put, citizen science means public participation in scientific research. The citizen science forum can help obtain a wide perspective and deep data, information on biodiversity conservation, urbanization outlines, pollution problems, and changes in agricultural production and fisheries worldwide. Taking part in citizen science activities also raises awareness, increases local concentration, and adds to more informed policy decisions.