Welcome to this short training course, which we hope you will find inspiring, energising and informative. The course is specifically aimed at museum staff, or those working closely with museums and similar institutions like science centres. It has been developed by citizen science practitioners at museums in the UK and Germany, with support from colleagues across Europe and beyond. Over the course of two hours, we will share examples and case studies of citizen science projects at museums, highlight museum-specific considerations, challenges and opportunities when developing a project, and give you tools and strategies to develop your own citizen science research project. The six sections introduce you to:A brief history of citizen science in museumsResearch opportunities through a citizen science approachEnhancing outcomes for citizen science participantsReal-world impact: Societal, conservation and policy outcomes of citizen scienceEthical considerationsOur goal is for you to:Reflect upon the long tradition of museums as an interface between research and society, professional societies and individual lay researchers, as well as in the form of (joint and open) data collection and archiving. Understand the benefits of a citizen science approach, for yourself and your organisation, for academic research, for the people who take part, and for the environment. Be able to capitalise upon and appreciate the opportunities and challenges at Museums as host organisations for citizen scienceBe aware of ethical considerations, and strategies to work towards equitable and inclusive citizen science.Understand the tools and resources available to support you as you develop or participate in a citizen science scheme.
10 Lessons
Updated: Oct 2023