Ann's Blog

My musings on open science
  • Home
 

Citizen Scientists

August 25, 2009

At the Citizen Science workshop, hosted last week by the Galaxy Zoo project, two of the people taking part were actual, real, citizen scientists. Both had careers outside science but had been drawn back into study through their involvement with the project. They were lovely, enthusiastic people and completely involved in Galaxy Zoo, spending long hours not just classifying the galaxies but helping to run the forum, gather material for papers, initiate new developments in the project and more.

They both said was that they liked being ‘zooites’ because they felt valued as collaborators, not used as ‘computers’ – that they were really ‘sharing in the science’. And also, most interestingly for me, that they felt those things because the  stuff they were doing is good science.

If citizens are going to devote time and energy to a project, they have to feel it’s worthwhile. No one likes to feel used or relegated to being a mere resource. Citizen scientists, like any other scientists, want to know that the research is hypothesis-driven and that the results matter. Science is driven by questions and citizen science is no different to any other kind.

Advertisement

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: citizen science, galaxy zoo, Public engagement with science | Permalink
Posted by Ann


  • You are currently browsing the Ann's Blog blog archives for August, 2009.

  • Archives

    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • December 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • June 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • November 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
  • Categories

    • Uncategorized


Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Ann's Blog
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Ann's Blog
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar