Re-thinking Science Communication: Take-away Ideas for Citizen Science Initiatives

Citizen engagement in science is a reality. People are involved as volunteers in the
scientific process, commonly in data collection, but also in other phases, such as quality
assurance, data analysis and interpretation, problem definition and the dissemination of
results. The critical purpose of any citizen science project is to contribute to scientific
research, but also empower citizens creating a collaborative effort between scientists and
their community. It also promotes science literacy and critical thinking for an informed
society, increases trust in science and contributes to defeating the fake news.

The #CitSciComm Labs are the core activity of the NEWSERA project, aimed at unveiling
the potential of citizen science projects as a communication mechanism for science
and technology. The #CitSciComm Labs, composed of science communicators and
data journalists, representatives of citizen science projects and their quadruplex-helix
stakeholders, work on co-designing innovative strategies to better communicate. Each
Lab is named after the addressed stakeholder and has local groups in Italy, Spain and
Portugal.