Tabea Turrini|Daniel Dörler|Anett Richter|Florian Heigl|Aletta Bonn
The threefold potential of environmental citizen science - Generating knowledge, creating learning opportunities and enabling civic participation
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research|Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research|University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research|Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research|University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research|Friedrich Schiller University Jena|Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
citizen science offers significant innovation potential science society policy foster environmental conservation goals citizen science generate new knowledge ii enhance awareness raising facilitate indepth learning well iii enable civic participation investigate aims realised citizen science projects assess needs challenges advancing citizen science stimulating future initiatives end conducted quantitative webbased survey 143 experts environmental educational sector germany austria switzerland findings show citizen science project managers pursue goals related three areas potential impact interestingly enabling civic participation considered slightly less important relation generating new knowledge creating learning opportunities different areas necessary action emerge analysis fully realize potential citizen science generating knowledge priority given enhance capacities effectively share research results scientific community publication also scientific journals systematic evaluation needed gain better understanding citizen science learning outcomes criteria need developed fostering project formats allow participants get involved whole research process posing study question implementing results could enhance transformative aspect citizen science societal level important structural aspects need addressed include adjustments funding schemes facilitation communication citizens academiabased scientists offers training guidance networking