# citizen science > collaborative approach that involves members of the public in scientific research **Wikidata**: [Q1093434](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1093434) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/citizen-science ## Summary Citizen science is a collaborative approach that involves members of the public in scientific research. It enables non-scientists to contribute meaningfully to data collection, analysis, and interpretation, often through volunteer computing or field observations. This model expands scientific capacity while fostering public engagement and education. ## Key Facts - Citizen science is classified as a form of **participatory monitoring**, **crowd-sourced science**, and **community science**. - It is a subclass of **crowdsourcing** and **open science**. - It is closely related to **volunteer computing**, which is a form of citizen science that uses donated computer resources for research. - Citizen science is associated with the **Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC)**, a platform that hosts distributed research projects. - It is also known by aliases such as **networked science**, **science by the people**, **civic science**, and **participatory monitoring**. - Citizen science is part of the broader **open science** movement, which promotes transparency and public access to scientific processes. - It is used in various scientific disciplines including **astronomy**, **climate science**, **biology**, and **environmental studies**. - It is linked to academic disciplines such as **academic discipline**, **participation (in decisions)**, and **human-based computation games** like **EyeWire**. - Citizen science has a **sitelink count** of 49, indicating its widespread recognition and use. - It is connected to structured properties in various knowledge systems, including Wikidata, MeSH, and other scientific taxonomies. ## FAQs ### Q: What is citizen science? A: Citizen science is a collaborative approach that involves members of the public in scientific research. It allows individuals without formal scientific training to contribute to data collection, analysis, and problem-solving across various fields. ### Q: How is citizen science related to volunteer computing? A: Volunteer computing is a subclass of citizen science that involves the donation of computer resources for research. Projects like **Einstein@Home** and **climateprediction.net** are examples where volunteers contribute processing power to analyze large datasets. ### Q: What are some aliases for citizen science? A: Citizen science is also known as networked science, science by the people, civic science, community science, crowd-sourced science, and participatory monitoring. ### Q: What platforms or systems support citizen science? A: Platforms like **BOINC** (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing) are widely used in citizen science projects. These systems enable large-scale data processing and public participation in scientific research. ### Q: What are some examples of citizen science projects? A: Notable projects include **Einstein@Home** (gravitational wave detection), **climateprediction.net** (climate modeling), and **EyeWire** (neuroscience through gamification). These projects allow volunteers to contribute to real scientific research. ### Q: What is the relationship between citizen science and open science? A: Citizen science is part of the broader **open science** movement, which emphasizes transparency, accessibility, and public participation in scientific research. It enables broader engagement by allowing non-experts to contribute to data collection and analysis. ### Q: What are some related fields or activities? A: Citizen science is related to **amateur chemistry**, **aircraft spotting**, **satellite watching**, and **lightning maps**, all of which involve public participation in scientific or observational activities. ## Why It Matters Citizen science matters because it democratizes the process of scientific discovery. It allows individuals without formal training to contribute meaningfully to research, expanding the scale and scope of data collection and analysis. This collaborative approach has led to significant discoveries in fields like astronomy, climate science, and biology. It also fosters public understanding of science, encourages educational engagement, and builds a more inclusive scientific community. By leveraging the collective efforts of volunteers, citizen science enables researchers to tackle large-scale problems that would be impossible to address with traditional methods alone. ## Notable For - **Public Participation**: Citizen science is notable for enabling non-scientists to contribute directly to scientific research. - **Volunteer Computing Integration**: It leverages platforms like BOINC to utilize donated computer resources for large-scale data analysis. - **Open Science Alignment**: It is part of the open science movement, promoting transparency and accessibility in research. - **Diverse Research Applications**: It spans multiple disciplines including astronomy, environmental science, and biology. - **Community Engagement**: It transforms public interest into actionable scientific contributions, making science more accessible and inclusive. ## Body ### Definition and Core Concept Citizen science is a collaborative research model that involves members of the public in scientific investigations. It enables individuals to participate in data collection, analysis, and interpretation, often without formal scientific training. This approach expands scientific capacity and fosters public engagement with science. ### Classification and Relationships Citizen science is a subclass of **crowdsourcing**, which involves obtaining services or ideas from a large group of people. It is also related to **volunteer computing**, a form of citizen science that uses donated computer resources. Additionally, it is part of the **open science** movement, which promotes open practices in research. ### Platforms and Systems - **BOINC**: The Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing is a key platform for volunteer computing projects. It allows users to donate idle computing power to scientific research. - **EyeWire**: A human-based computation game that engages users in mapping neural connections, representing a gamified form of citizen science. ### Related Projects and Activities Citizen science is associated with a wide range of projects and activities: - **Einstein@Home**: Analyzes data from gravitational wave detectors. - **climateprediction.net**: Engages volunteers in climate modeling. - **EyeWire**: A game that allows players to map the neural connections in the brain. - **lightning maps**: A network for localizing lightning strikes. - **amateur chemistry**, **aircraft spotting**, and **satellite watching** are also related activities that involve public participation in scientific observation. ### Ecosystem and Community Citizen science is embedded in a diverse ecosystem that includes: - **Academic disciplines** such as environmental science, astronomy, and biology. - **Volunteer networks** that contribute to data collection and analysis. - **Open science initiatives** that promote public access and participation in research. ### Historical and Institutional Context Citizen science has evolved to include formal programs and platforms that support public participation. It is supported by structured identifiers in scientific databases and is recognized by a variety of institutional and community-based initiatives. Its aliases and classifications reflect its broad applicability and integration into the scientific community. ### Notable Projects and Contributions - **Einstein@Home**: Detects gravitational waves using data from volunteers' computers. - **Climateprediction.net**: Models climate change using distributed computing. - **EyeWire**: Engages users in mapping the brain's neural connections through gameplay. - **Lightning maps**: A volunteer-based network for tracking lightning strikes globally. Citizen science plays a critical role in modern research by expanding the scope of scientific inquiry and making it accessible to the public. It represents a shift toward more inclusive and participatory scientific practices. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Source](http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/TSO-GW6WNBGQ-X) 4. BBC Things 5. YSO-Wikidata mapping project 6. Quora 7. FactGrid 8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)