Ten Principles of Citizen Science – European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) (original) (raw)

ECSA Characteristics

of Citizen Science

Citizen science is a common name for a wide range of activities and practices. It is possible to understand it by considering the characteristics of those activities and practices. These are found in different scientific disciplines – from the natural sciences to the social sciences and the humanities – and within each discipline, the interpretation of citizen science can be slightly different.

ECSA’s Characteristics of Citizen Science attempt to represent a wide range of opinions in an inclusive way, to allow for different types of projects and programmes, where context-specific criteria can be set. The characteristics are based on views expressed by researchers, practitioners, public officials and the wider public.

Further explanation and background are provided in the ‘ECSA’s characteristics of citizen science: explanation notes’ document.

Click below to read the characteristics.