Consolidating Dispersed Knowledge About Citizen Science and Citizen Observatories: Experiences from the Four WeObserve Communities of Practice

Environmental Management, vol. 76

Abstract

A strong Community of Practice (CoP) can be powerful in supporting people to share, generate, and disseminate knowledge. This study evaluates the use of the Communities of Practice (CoP) approach for effective knowledge consolidation in the field of citizen science. Our paper offers an analysis of four CoPs that were set up as part of the European-based 3-year WeObserve project, with distinct themes of (1) co-design & citizen engagement; (2) impact and value for governance; (3) interoperability and standards; and (4) the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Participation across the four CoPs fluctuated during their three-year life-time. Three key outcomes emerged from the CoPs. First, a joint identity and understanding were created within and across CoPs through the creation of an inception report by each CoP and through the creation of Citizen observatory (CO) vocabulary, which also served to differentiate such observatories from citizen science (CS) initiatives. Next, scientific papers and technical reports were cooperatively produced by CoP members that represent a synthesis of CoP members' knowledge. Essential ingredients to the success of these CoPs also included extensive stakeholder engagement and the CoPs being steered by the underpinning values of the CS community. The impacts of the WeObserve CoPs range from the uptake of jointly produced publications, novel cooperative CS projects, new CoPs, joint grant proposals, and the integration of citizen science data into SDG monitoring. This evaluation highlights the diverse and transformative potential of CoPs for citizen science practice.

Authors 22

1. Uta Wehn corresponding Aachen CWTS - Centre for Science & Technology Studies

   Leiden University · IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

   Affiliation as printed

   CWTS - Centre for Science & Technology Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. u.w.c.wehn@cwts.leidenuniv.nl

   IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands. u.w.c.wehn@cwts.leidenuniv.nl

2. Dilek Fraisl

   International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

   Affiliation as printed

   International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

3. Joan Masó Pau

   Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications

   Affiliation as printed

   CREAF, Barcelona, Spain

4. Mohammad Gharesifard

   University of Groningen

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

5. Linda See

   International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

   Affiliation as printed

   International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

6. Gerid Hager

   International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

   Affiliation as printed

   International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

7. Jessica L. Oliver
   Affiliation as printed

   Australian Citizen Science Association Inc. (ACSA), Maleny, QLD, Australia

8. Tova R Crystal

   IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

   Affiliation as printed

   IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands

9. Ajates

   Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

   Affiliation as printed

   Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain

10. Ane Bilbao

    Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Biotechnology Department, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

11. Eglė Butkevičienė

    Kaunas University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania

12. Carlo Andrea Biraghi

    Politecnico di Milano

    Affiliation as printed

    Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy

13. Jillian Campbell

    United Nations Environment Programme

    Affiliation as printed

    Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNEP, Montreal, Canada

14. Laurent Durieux
    Affiliation as printed

    French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Paris, France

15. Eugenio Gervasini

    Joint Research Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

16. Margaret M. Gold Aachen CWTS - Centre for Science & Technology Studies

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    CWTS - Centre for Science & Technology Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

17. Gitte Kragh

    Aarhus University

    Affiliation as printed

    Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

18. Andreas Matheus
    Affiliation as printed

    Secure Dimensions GmbH, Munich, Germany

19. Stephen Mac Feely

    Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques

    Affiliation as printed

    OECD, Boulogne Billancourt, France

20. Maina Muniafu

    United States International University Africa

    Affiliation as printed

    United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

21. Lea Shanley

    International Computer Science Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA

22. Ali Yousefi

    Isfahan University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran