Mapping approaches to ‘citizen science’ and ‘community science’ and everything in-between: The evolution of new epistemic territory?

Hacking, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2219-7724, Lewis, Jamie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1065-6017 and Evans, Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7034-5122 2024. Mapping approaches to ‘citizen science’ and ‘community science’ and everything in-between: The evolution of new epistemic territory? Minerva 62 (4) , pp. 549-572. 10.1007/s11024-024-09529-z

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Abstract

Over the last decade or so, the rate of growth of academic publications involving discussion of ‘citizen science’ and ‘community science’, and similar variants, has risen exponentially. These fluid terms, with no fixed definition, cover a continuum of public participation within a range of scientific activities. It is, therefore, apposite and timely to examine the evolving typologies of citizen science and community science and to ask how particular disciplinary actors are shaping content and usage. Do certain approaches to citizen science and community science activity remain siloed within specific disciplines or do some approaches resonate more widely? In this study, we use mixed methods - bibliometric and textual analysis - to chart the changing academic interpretations of this scientific activity over time. We then ask what these analyses mean for the future direction of academic research into citizen science and community science. The results suggest that, while certain disciplinary-based interpretations have been particularly influential in the past, a more epistemically mixed array of academic interests than was previously evident are currently determining expectations of what citizen science and community science should look like and what they can be expected to deliver.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	0736-718X
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 March 2024
Date of Acceptance:	21 March 2024
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2024 15:03
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167551

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