Resumo

HARGITAI, Evelin Gabriella et al. Bottom-Up and Reciprocal Citizen Science: Untapped Resources of Novel Ideas. Preliminary Experiences of a Citizen Science As Public Engagement Program. RLEC/LJCS [online]. 2022, vol.9, n.2, pp.119-135.  Epub 01-Maio-2023. ISSN 2184-0458.  https://doi.org/10.21814/rlec.3996.

In scientific research, citizen science is widely regarded as an involvement of the general public in scientific research initiated by universities, scientific organisations or research centres. In this top-down approach (top-down citizen science), participating citizens usually collect data or provide samples for research - that is, they are considered volunteer research assistants following instructions. This study analyses alternatives of top-down citizen science: one, widely known, which is the bottom-up way of citizen science and another, the reciprocal approach suggested by the authors. Bottom-up is based on local initiatives and is constituted by communityled projects. For bottom-up citizen science, scientific organisations may provide methodological and organisational frames. However, the idea and the implementation remain in the competence of the participant citizens. Reciprocal citizen science emerged from a need for a more holistic policy toward citizen science. As part of this, identifying viable citizen-initiated projects, measuring their scientific and/or innovation potential, and integrating them into a citizen science mentor program are questions to be systematically discussed and solved. This study addresses methodological challenges in mentoring citizen science projects, covering a mentor training concept for citizen science designed by the Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries. Encouraging citizen research is needed for a new impetus to scientific discoveries. The perspectives of people with no scientific background can also advance problems - mainly those that require fresh and unbiased approaches. Citizen science may also be a solution for leveraging the knowledge of science leavers.

Palavras-chave : citizen science; mentoring; bottom-up citizen science; empowerment.

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