Theoretical Processing of Citizen Science Projects Implementation in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D Candidate in S&T Policy Making,Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

2 Associate Prof, Faculty of Economics and administrative Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

3 Associate Prof, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

10.22034/jstp.2021.14.2.1294

Abstract

Participatory approaches such as citizen science are an important tool for the promotion and development of science in any society. In Iran, citizen science projects is implement to a limited extent and have not been universally welcomed by the public and it indicates a gap between the public and those with knowledge of science and politics in the country. This study provides a comprehensive model for the implementation of citizen science. By using the multi-Grounded theory research method and by open interviews with 13 experts and studying policy documents and scientific articles identify the roots of partnership formation and the consequences. The findings of this study showed that citizen science projects require a desire for citizen participation and a desire for democratization by implementers, and bring benefits such as promoting social capital, sustainable development, open science, and productivity. To achieve this, emphased on strategies such as training and human resource, project process planning, providing technological infrastructure, providing a space for conversation, and sharing findings. In the end, with considering the situation of the country, it has identified the potential strengths and weaknesses and has provided solutions to promote the implementation of citizen science.orientation were among the variables affecting familiarity and trust in nanotechnology, respectively.
 

Keywords


[1] Federica Cornali, (2017) Talking with the Scientists: Promoting Scientific Citizenship at School through Participatory and Deliberative Approach, Studies in Media and Communication, Vol. 5, No. 2; P 132-144. December 2017
[2] Kieslinger,B., Schafer,T., Heigl,F., Dorler,D. (2017). The Challenge of Evaluation: An Open Framework for Evaluating Citizen Science Activities.P 1-32
[3] Alvarado,C,M,M., Rendon,A,Z., Vazquez,A,D,S. (2020). Integrating Public Participation in Knowledge Generation Processes: Evidence from Citizen Science Initiatives in Mexico. Environmental Science and Policy. 114. 230-241.
[4] McKinley C D, Miller-Rushing J A, Ballard L H, Bonney R, Brown H, Cook-Patton C S, et al. (2016). Citizen Science Can Improve Conservation Science, Natural Resource Management, and Environmental Protection. Biological Conservation.1-14
[5] Gharesifard,M., When,V.,Zaag,P,V,D. (2017). Towards Benchmarking Citizen Observatories: Feature and Functioning of Online Amateur Weather Networks. Journal of Environmental Management. P1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.02.003
[6] California Academy of science. (2015). Citizen science Toolkit, Teaching Science through Citizen Science, First Published in Partnership with the Pearson Foundation and Revised in 2015. P 1-50
[7] Fernandez.Gimenez, M., Ballard,H., Sturtevant,V,E. (2008). Adaptive Management and Social Learning in Collaborative and Community-Based Monitoring: A Study of Five Community-Based Forestry Organizations in the Westwern USA. Ecology and Society. Vol 13. No 2.P1-23 : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/42763977
[8] Bonney,R., Ballard,H., Jordan,R., McCallie,E., Phillips,T., Shirk,J., Wilderman,C . (2009). Public Participation in Scientific Research: Definning the Field and Assessing its Potential for Informal Science Education. A CAISE Inquiry Group Report. Washington,D.C.: Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE). P58
[9] Shirk,J,L., Ballard,H,L., Wilderman,C,C., Phillips,T., Wiggins,A., Jordan,R. et al.(2012). Public Participation in Scientific Research: a Framework for Deliberate Design. Ecology and Society. Vol 17. No 2. 29-48 http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-04705-170229
[10] Conrad,C., Hilchey,K. (2011). A Review of Citizen Science and Community-Based Environmental Monitiring: Issues and Opportunities. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 176.P 273-291. Doi: 10.1007/s10661-010-1582-5
[11] Wiggins,A., Crowstone,K. (2011). From ConservationTo Crowdsourcing: A Typology of Citizen Science. 44th Hawail International Conference on System Sciences. P 1-10
[12] Bowater,L., Yeoman K. (2013). Science Communication: A Practical Gide for Scientists.  First Edition. John Wiley & Sons. Ltd. Chapter One. A Guide to Science Communication.P1-22.
[13] Fehri,R., Khlifi,S., Vanclooster,M. (2020). Testing a Citizen Science Water Monitoring Approach in Tunisia. Environmental Science and Policy. 104. 67-72
[14] Bucchi M.(2009). Beyond Technocracy Science, Politics and Citizens. Springer Science  Business Media.LLC.2009. P1-106
[15] Haklay,M. (2015). Citizen Science and Policy. A European Perspective. Washington DC: Woodraw Wilson International Center for Scholars. Vol4. Page 1-68
[16] Beneficiary institution. (2016). Review of Existing Citizen Science Tools. Work Package 14. Citizen Observatories and Participative Science.P 1-20.
[17] Walters,L,C., Aydelotte,J., Miller,J. (2000). Putting More Public in policy Analysis. Public Administration Review. Vol 60. No 4. P 349-359
[18] Wehn,V., Rusca,M., Evers,J., Lanfranchi,V. (2015). Participation in Flood Risk Management and the Potential of Citizen Observatories: A Governance Analysis. Environmental Science and Policy. 48. 225-236.
[19] Davies G K, Phillips W J. (2006). Scientific Citizenship and Good Governance: Implications for Biotechnology. TRENDS in Biotechnology. Vol.24 No 2. 57-61 February 2006
[20] Senabre E, Ferran F N, Pirelli J. (2018). Participatory Design of Citizen Science. Media Education Research Journal. N 54. P29-38
[21] Zeidler,D., Kahn,S. (2014). Its Debatable! Using Socioscientific Issues to Develop Scientific Literacy K-12. National Science Teacher Association.P 1-304
[22] Geoghegan, H., Dyke, A., Pateman, R., West, S. & Everett, G. (2016) Understanding motivations for citizen science. Final report on behalf of UKEOF, University of Reading, Stockholm Environment Institute (University of York) and University of the West of England.P 1-120
[23] Lichten C, Loppolo R, DAngelo C, SimmonkR, JonesM M. (2018). Citizen Science: Crowdsourcing for Research. University of Cambridge, Published by: The Health Care Improvement Studies Institute. P 1-17
[24] Freitag A, Mayer R, Whiteman L. (2016). Strategies Employed by Citizen Science Programs to Increase the Credibility of Their Data. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. 1(1):2.pp.1-11.
[25] Ghaneirad,M,A., Morshedi, A. (2011). Survey of Public Understanding of Science and Technology; Pilot Study in Tehran. Journal of Science & Technology Policy. Vol 3. Number 3. 93-110 {In Persian}
[26] Shaebani,M., Razeghi, N. (2020). Scientific Citizenship: A Study of the Understanding and Public Engagement of Science and Technology. Journal of Science & Technology Policy (JSTP). Vol 12. Number 2. 41-53 {In Persian}
[27] Resnik B D, Elliott C K, Miller K A. (2015). A Framework for Addressing Ethical Issues in Citizen Science. Environmental Science & Policy. 54.475-481.
[28] Goldkuhl,G., Cronholm,S. (2010). Adding Theoretical Grounding to Grounded Theory: Toward Multi-Grounded Theory. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 9.2. P 187-205.