Citizen science allows people with different backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge to conduct research together. This opens up new perspectives and opportunities for science. But there are also challenges that come with increased participation in research. How can trust-based collaboration succeed despite the differences? How is this type of research perceived by the scientific community and the public? The joint project “Trust in Citizen Science” (TiCS), a cooperation between the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN), the TU Braunschweig and the LMU Munich, is dedicated to these and other questions. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Research for the further development of citizen science
More and more scientific research projects are being created in collaboration between experts and interested citizens. The spectrum of topics being researched with social participation ranges from bird watching to health and urban space research as well as history. The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin has set itself the task of promoting and developing citizen science. This is done through a variety of practice oriented and research projects on this topic.
Trust plays a role in citizen science at various levels. In principle, it is conceivable that enabling more social participation will strengthen public trust in science. Trust can also develop between the participants within the individual Citizen Science projects. The question also arises as to the conditions under which scientists consider citizen science to be a suitable research approach. The TiCS project partners are looking at the potentials and challenges for the development of trust in its various facets. The aim is to contribute to the further development of the research landscape. At the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, cooperation within Citizen Science projects and expectations of trust development through Citizen Science are being investigated.