EU-Citizen.Science: A Platform for Mainstreaming Citizen Science and Open Science in Europe

Data Intelligence, vol. 3, pp. 136–149

Abstract

Citizen Science (CS) is a prominent field of application for Open Science (OS), and the two have strong synergies, such as: advocating for the data and metadata generated through science to be made publicly available [ 1 ]; supporting more equitable collaboration between different types of scientists and citizens; and facilitating knowledge transfer to a wider range of audiences [ 2 ]. While primarily targeted at CS, the EU-Citizen. Science platform can also support OS. One of its key functions is to act as a knowledge hub to aggregate, disseminate and promote experience and know-how; for example, by profiling CS projects and collecting tools, resources and training materials relevant to both fields. To do this, the platform has developed an information architecture that incorporates the public participation in scientific research (PPSR)—Common Conceptual Model ① . This model consists of the Project Metadata Model, the Dataset Metadata Model and the Observation Data Model, which were specifically developed for CS initiatives. By implementing these, the platform will strengthen the interoperating arrangements that exist between other, similar platforms (e.g., BioCollect and SciStarter) to ensure that CS and OS continue to grow globally in terms of participants, impact and fields of application.

Authors 7

1. Katherin Wagenknecht

   Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau

   Affiliation as printed

   Technische Hochschule Wildau, Hochschulring 1, 15745 Wildau, Germany

2. Francisco García Sanz
   Affiliation as printed

   Ibercivis Foundation, Campus Río Ebro, C/Mariano Esquillor s/n Edificio I+D, Zaragoza 50018, Spain

3. Margaret M. Gold Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Anne Bowser

   Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

   Affiliation as printed

   Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC, District of Columbia 20004, United States

5. Simone Rüfenacht
   Affiliation as printed

   European Citizen Science Association, Invalidenstraße 41, Berlin 10115, Germany

6. Luigi Ceccaroni

   Earthwatch Europe

   Affiliation as printed

   Earthwatch, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 7DE, UK

7. Jaume Piera

   Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas · Institut de Ciències del Mar

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37–49, Barcelona 08003, Spain