Research on citizen science: Integration, evaluation, and challenges

Tomislav Ivanjko
Feb. 18, 2025, 8:39 a.m.

Citizen science is not just a trend — it’s transforming the way research is conducted by involving everyday citizens in the scientific process. From biodiversity monitoring to historical archiving, universities are using citizen science to foster collaboration between academia and the public. But how exactly is this innovative approach being integrated into university settings, and what challenges do universities face in making it a success?

On October 14th, 2024, the ECSA working group on Citizen Science and Universities gathered for an exciting and insightful session to explore these very questions. The focus — Research on citizen science — what’s happening in academia, and how can universities better integrate it into their research and teaching? Here’s a look at the key takeaways from the discussion.

Spotlight on current research activities

The meeting opened with presentations from the University of Zagreb and the University of Groningen, each showcasing their own approaches to embedding citizen science within their institutions.

University of Zagreb (Tomislav Ivanjko): Tomislav Ivanjko introduced several key research activities related to citizen science. One of the standout projects, Citizen Science in Social and Humanities Research: Theoretical Framework and Implementation Guidelines (2021-2023), focuses on digitising and enriching a collection of over 6,000 sports photographs from the Croatian Sports Museum. Retired sports journalists contribute to the project by providing contextual metadata and personal testimonies, following the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability). The project doesn’t just enhance the collection—it also provides a theoretical framework for applying citizen science in the humanities. Another upcoming project, Participatory Processes in Culture (2024-2025), will explore how user groups engage with cultural institutions, both in physical and digital spaces, providing a critical analysis of participatory practices in libraries, museums, and archives. Tomislav Ivanjko also referenced the recently published book Građanska znanost (citizen science), which offers practical guidelines and a theoretical framework for applying citizen science within the humanities and social sciences at the University of Zagreb and beyond.

University of Groningen (Mohammad Gharesifard): Mohammad Gharesifard showcased Groningen’s ongoing citizen science projects, highlighting their emphasis on community involvement in scientific research.  The presentation focuses on ongoing and planned citizen science research activities at the University of Groningen, highlighting key projects and research questions. It started  with an overview of citizen science activities at University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, exploring how citizen science is integrated into research and education. This includes mapping past, ongoing, and planned citizen science initiatives. Key research areas include citizen-led biodiversity conservation, water and air quality monitoring, sustainability challenges, and patient involvement in medical research. The presentation also emphasises the use of citizen science in university-level courses and the ethical considerations surrounding patient-researcher dynamics.

Specific projects that were highlighted, including a PhD project on developing a participatory water quality monitoring system for aquaculture using citizen science, IoT, and machine learning. Additionally, a project within the Risk, Crises, and Resilience research group that combines citizen science and Agent-Based Models to enhance disaster preparedness. Lastly, there was an invitation to contribute to a topical collection on citizen science and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the role of citizen science in promoting sustainability within interconnected nexus domains like water, energy, and food systems.

Group discussion: Research trends and evaluation challenges

After these inspiring presentations, the group dove into a lively discussion about broader trends in citizen science integration and the evaluation challenges faced by academic institutions. The conversation covered three main areas:

1. Integration of citizen science into research and teaching

Universities are finding creative ways to incorporate citizen science into their teaching and research frameworks. Participants shared various approaches, illustrating the flexibility and adaptability of citizen science across different disciplines:

• MSc programmes: One participant mentioned that their university offers a course on citizen science within their Master's program, providing students with hands-on experience. Another institution has proposed a Citizen science course in its MSc Program to further integrate the practice into higher education curricula.
• Teaching as part of a module: At the postgraduate (MA) level, some universities have integrated citizen science into their courses through case studies. These studies give students the opportunity to analyse ongoing projects and design similar initiatives for their own research.
• Ad hoc events and initiatives: Supporting events like the City Nature Challenge or BioBlitzes has been another successful approach. “Ad hoc events like these have been a game-changer for us,” one participant shared. “They not only engage students but also help build a sense of community around citizen science initiatives.”
• Through PhD research: Several institutions are encouraging the use of citizen science in PhD research, either as a methodology or a research tool. One participant noted that their university promotes citizen science approaches through PhD research projects across various disciplines, fostering deeper academic engagement with public participation.

These insights underscored the flexibility and adaptability of citizen science, with institutions applying it in diverse ways—from formal courses to informal, event-based learning opportunities.

1. Methods, metrics, and indicators for measuring success

When it comes to evaluating the success of citizen science initiatives, universities are using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The group shared their insights on the metrics currently in use, as well as the challenges in establishing more comprehensive evaluation frameworks:

• Number of projects and students: Many institutions track the number of citizen science projects and student involvement as key metrics. However, as one participant noted, “It’s not just about the numbers; we also need to measure how students engage with these projects.” Understanding the quality of interaction is just as important as the quantity.
• Funding and project value: Universities also assess the number and value of funded projects. This helps demonstrate the tangible outcomes of citizen science to stakeholders, particularly when it comes to securing future funding.
• Student feedback and post-participation surveys: Qualitative feedback through post-participation surveys and student forum discussions provides valuable insights into the educational and personal impacts of citizen science activities. Institutions are increasingly relying on this kind of feedback to understand how citizen science enriches the student experience.
• Social media engagement: Some universities track the success of their projects through engagement on social media, measuring interactions, observations, and the overall reach of their citizen science activities.

Despite these efforts, several participants admitted that their evaluation methods were still in development. “We don’t have any standardised metrics yet,” one attendee remarked, a sentiment echoed by others in the group.

1. Challenges in Evaluating Citizen Science Impact

Evaluating the impact of citizen science projects presents several challenges. Participants identified key barriers, but also proposed potential solutions to overcome them:

• Motivation of scientists to participate: Engaging researchers in citizen science projects can be difficult. One participant emphasised the need to motivate scientists to engage with citizen science, noting that without clear incentives, researchers may hesitate to participate.
• Absence of concrete metrics: “We lack concrete metrics and indicators,” shared one participant. The absence of standardised evaluation methods makes it hard to measure the long-term impact of citizen science projects across institutions.
• Lack of data and planning: “We didn’t plan for evaluation in advance,” one participant admitted. Many universities face this issue, where evaluation frameworks are either underdeveloped or not implemented from the outset, making it difficult to track success effectively.
• Funding and infrastructure: Sustainability is a common concern, as citizen science projects often depend on external funding. One participant pointed out the challenge of keeping funding for key infrastructure and staff involved in citizen science, noting that without stable financial support, it’s difficult to scale or sustain these initiatives.
• Evaluation expertise: Some universities face a lack of expertise for evaluating citizen science efforts, which hampers their ability to create meaningful, long-lasting evaluation frameworks that capture both the scientific and community-driven outcomes of citizen science.

In response, the group suggested collaborating with external stakeholders to create shared evaluation frameworks. Developing a toolkit specifically designed for evaluating citizen science within academia was also proposed as a potential solution.

What’s next?

This meeting was just the beginning. As more universities recognise the transformative potential of citizen science, the need for collaboration, shared knowledge, and innovative solutions will continue to grow. The participants left with a clearer understanding of how citizen science is evolving in academic settings, along with actionable insights on how to improve its integration and evaluation.

The conversation around citizen science in universities is far from over. With growing interest and more initiatives being launched, there’s much more to explore. Stay tuned for future updates and discussions as universities continue to shape the future of citizen science.