Published January 8, 2026 | Version 1
Journal article Open

Delineating the contours of citizen science: Development of the ECSA characteristics of citizen science

Description

Citizen science is increasingly recognized as a valuable method in various research fields, but its definition remains challenging due to the diversity of approaches and practices. This paper introduces the "ECSA Characteristics of Citizen Science", which outline key elements of citizen science projects. It also connects these Characteristics to the ECSA 10 Principles of Citizen Science, which provide guidance on best practices. Additionally, the paper examines how different groups, such as policymakers and research funders, understand citizen science and highlights the differences in practices across disciplines. A strict definition of citizen science may limit creativity and participation, while a broad one could make it difficult to apply in specific contexts. The paper recommends a flexible, inclusive approach that allows different actors to define citizen science according to their own needs and contexts.

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Cites
10.1073/pnas.1909278116 (DOI)
10.5334/cstp.691 (DOI)
10.3390/su15054496 (DOI)
10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05055.x (DOI)
10.5334/dsj-2020-043 (DOI)
10.1007/s10661-010-1582-5 (DOI)
10.1126/science.abi6487 (DOI)
10.5281/zenodo.7249085 (DOI)
10.17605/OSF.IO/XPR2N (DOI)
10.5334/cstp.96 (DOI)
10.5334/cstp.812 (DOI)
10.1007/s11625-020-00833-7 (DOI)
10.1038/s43586-022-00144-4 (DOI)
10.1007/s11625-023-01402-4 (DOI)
10.3389/fpubh.2023.1202188 (DOI)
10.1038/s41893-024-01489-2 (DOI)
10.1007/978-3-030-58278-4_10 (DOI)
10.1007/s11024-024-09529-z (DOI)
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