Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability from edX

Citizens & scientists join forces

Citizen science has become an essential approach to address urgent sustainability challenges. It is critical that science and society work together. Science becomes more relevant as scientists and citizens upscale data collection, co-create knowledge and collectively act on outcomes.

" Transformative citizen science goes a step further. It is not just about knowing and 'doing things better' but also about 'doing better things' altogether."

For example, the BigO project ‘Big data against childhood Obesity‘ massively increased data collection, reaching out to over twenty thousand children from different countries to contribute over 107.000 pictures and other data on the impact of lifestyle and living conditions on health and well-being. It led to more awareness of schools on promotion of healthy behaviours across different income groups, and sparked changes on public health policy.

In this course you will explore several such successful examples of citizen science, including projects on:

water and air quality
disease
climate change and
loss of green spaces and biodiversity

Transforming society together

Well-designed citizen science enables citizens to collect, interpret and share data. Transformative citizen science goes a step further. It allows citizens to contribute to change on issues that matter to them. It is a process that challenges our assumptions and values, to co-create innovative solutions that can tackle sustainability challenges. It is not just about knowing and doing things better but also about doing better things all together

Your project and WUR's Citizen Science Hub

Citizen science can be used in a range of contexts, involving multiple stakeholders representing the world of civic society, governance and education. In this course you will develop a deep understanding of CS, the diverse ways of using it in practice, and the principles that make it work.

As course participant you gain access to a community of practice established by the Wageningen University & Research’s Citizen Science Hub, in which practitioners engage and support the development of new projects from across the globe.

Having this expertise will help you in gaining a position in governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as in institutions of higher education who are exploring ways to develop and utilize CS in an ambition to contribute to the transformation of the society at large. In other words, organisations and institutions that go beyond self-gain, with an intrinsic drive to help communities in becoming more sustainable, including the well-being of the collective and the planet.

For Whom

Are you:

a policy maker interested in developing broadly supported and informed solutions to sustainability issues?
a concerned citizen or professional working in an NGO or activist organization wishing to support citizens in working towards healthier, greener and more sustainable communities?
or an academic wishing to have more societal impact with your research by working more closely with citizens?

This course will help you take the next steps in making citizen science work for you.

What you'll learn

In this course you will have the ability to:

Develop a plan for initiating and sustaining a citizen science project, including strategies and skills for communication, data collection and management, and ethics.
Gain insight in the advantages of different types of citizen science projects, ranging from science-oriented to action-oriented, and the challenges of balancing citizen participation and scientific rigour.
Understand trade-offs in engaging citizens in each project phase from goal formulation to project evaluation. Practical examples and tools are given for data collection and storage, and communicating for impact.

The course is composed of theoretical and practical assignments that will enable you to:
- Understand the basic characteristics of Citizen Science
- Identify the strategic decisions of a citizen science project and activities for citizen involvement.
- Identify requirements and methods for data monitoring, storing, sharing, analysis, interpretation.
- Assess and communicate the process, outcomes and impact of a citizen science project.

Practical assignments:
Course staff and peers will give you feedback on your own project plan. This will help you master the iterative design-implementation cycle of goal-design-collect-evaluate. You will learn to:
- Determine your sustainability challenge as a citizen science opportunity.
- Develop a strategy for your Transformative Citizen Science Project.
- Plan the data monitoring, storing, sharing, analysis, interpretation of your project.
- Assess and communicate the process, outcomes and impact of your project.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop a plan for initiating and sustaining a citizen science project, including strategies and skills for communication, data collection and management, and ethics.
Gain insight in the advantages of different types of citizen science projects, ranging from science-oriented to action-oriented, and the challenges of balancing citizen participation and scientific rigour.

Understand trade-offs in engaging citizens in each project phase from goal formulation to project evaluation. practical examples and tools are given for data collection and storage, and communicating for impact.

Develop a plan for initiating and sustaining a citizen science project, including strategies and skills for communication, data collection and management, and ethics.
Gain insight in the advantages of different types of citizen science projects, ranging from science-oriented to action-oriented, and the challenges of balancing citizen participation and scientific rigour.
Understand trade-offs in engaging citizens in each project phase from goal formulation to project evaluation. practical examples and tools are given for data collection and storage, and communicating for impact.

Syllabus

MODULE 1: Citizen Science Basics

Increasingly, non-scientists are contributing to the scientific process in a myriad of CS initiatives worldwide. Given the urgency of the sustainability challenges of our time, opening up the scientific process to non-scientists is a powerful way to address these wicked problems. In this module you will learn the basic definitions and terms to understand different CS practices. You will know about setting goals and research questions to be tackled by a CS endeavour, how to identify who is directly and indirectly involved, and what ethical concerns to bear in mind when developing and deploying a CS project.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Designed for professionals in various fields, including policy makers, non-profit staff, and academics

Taught by leading experts from Wageningen University & Research's Citizen Science Hub

Includes hands-on labs and interactive materials to facilitate practical application of the concepts

Provides a strong foundation for beginners and strengthens existing knowledge for intermediate learners

Focuses on the practical aspects of citizen science, including communication, data collection, and evaluation

Covers a wide range of topics, including water quality, disease, climate change, and biodiversity loss

Reviews summary

Practical framework for citizen science

According to learners, this course offers a highly relevant and practical framework for initiating and sustaining citizen science projects, particularly for those in sustainability, policy, and academic fields. Students consistently praise the invaluable practical assignments, especially the development of their own project plans, which provided hands-on experience and constructive feedback. The unique focus on 'transformative' citizen science and societal impact is a significant positive. While some found the pace occasionally slow or desired deeper dives into advanced topics like data analysis tools or more direct instructor feedback, the course is broadly seen as providing a solid foundation with knowledgeable instructors and well-organized materials, making it highly recommended for professionals.

Unique emphasis on societal impact resonates with learners.

"The focus on 'transformative' citizen science really resonated with me as an academic looking for societal impact."

"Truly transformative! This course gave me a complete framework for designing and implementing citizen science projects for sustainability."

"I especially valued the emphasis on societal impact and how to truly empower citizens for change."

Provides insights directly applicable to professional roles.

"The content was highly relevant to my work in an environmental NGO, especially the modules on project design and communication."

"I found this course very useful for my work as a policy advisor; the ethical considerations were particularly insightful."

"It provided a solid foundation in citizen science, covering everything from ethical considerations to data management."

"The examples shared were inspiring and showed the real-world impact of citizen science initiatives."

Course excels in enabling real-world project planning.

"The practical assignment where we developed our own citizen science project plan was invaluable, and the feedback from peers and instructors was constructive."

"The opportunity to develop my own project idea was a major plus, making the learning truly hands-on."

"I feel much more confident in initiating a community-based project now, having applied the concepts practically."

"The practical assignments helped translate theory into actionable plans relevant to my work."

Feedback mechanisms could be more robust or direct.

"The peer review process could be more robust to provide more in-depth critiques."

"I wished there was more interaction or direct feedback from the instructors during the project development phase, beyond the peer reviews."

"I expected more rigorous feedback on my project work to truly refine my understanding."

Some modules could benefit from faster pacing or advanced depth.

"I found the pace a bit slow at times, especially in the early modules, feeling some sections were repetitive."

"I would have loved even more detailed case studies on overcoming challenges in actual projects."

"I was hoping for more advanced insights given the 'transformative' title, as some parts felt quite introductory."

"Deeper dives into specific data analysis tools or more complex project management scenarios would enhance it further for me."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability with these activities:

Review Course Materials

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Reviewing course materials will help you to refresh your memory on the key concepts covered in the course.

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Go through the course syllabus and identify the key concepts.
Review your notes from lectures and readings.
Complete practice questions or exercises.

Organize Course Materials

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Organizing your course materials will help you to stay on top of the course content and to easily find the information you need.

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Create a filing system for your notes, readings, and assignments.
Keep a notebook or journal to track your progress.
Use a calendar or planner to keep track of deadlines.

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Career center

Learners who complete Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants need to be well-equipped to work with both civilians and investgators within the field of environmental science. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can teach an Environmental Consultants how to create effective citizen science projects as well as the proper management of the data gathered in these projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Climate Scientist

Climate Scientists are dedicated to studying and informing the public about climate change. The focus is often on mitigation and the development of tools to ameliorate long-term environmental damage. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can help teach a Climate Scientist how to engage the public in data collection and other aspects of the scientific process.

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Social Scientist

The insights from the Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can be immediately applied by a Social Scientist who may dedicate their academic career to citizen science research. The skills gained would assist in the study of data collected from citizen science projects to inform policy and action that creates a more sustainable future.

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Science Writer

Science Writers communicate complex scientific information to the public. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can offer a Science Writer a unique perspective on citizen science projects. Storytelling and narrative are powerful ways to share data and engage the public.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for businesses and other organizations. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can help a Sustainability Manager learn how to use citizen science as a tool for engaging stakeholders and measuring the impact of sustainability initiatives.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst may be tasked with solving sustainability issues or developing environmental policy. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can help a Policy Analyst develop strong communication skills to work with stakeholders such as citizens, citizen scientists, and environmental leaders. In addition, how to collect, analyze, and disseminate data around sustainability.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts will need to be able to use their skills to analyze and interpret data from a variety of sources. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can help a Data Analyst learn how to collect, process, and analyze data from citizen science projects.

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Environmental Educator

Environmental Educators teach students and the general public about environmental issues. Their duties often include developing educational programs and materials and organizing community events. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can teach an Environmental Educator how to use citizen science as a tool for engaging with the public and teaching about environmental issues.

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Community Organizer

Community Organizers bring people together to address issues that affect their community. This often involves organizing events, campaigns, and other activities. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course will teach a Community Organizer how to use citizen science as a tool for empowering communities to take action on environmental issues.

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Environmental Reporter

Environmental Reporters write about environmental issues for newspapers, magazines, and other media outlets. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course can offer an Environmental Reporter vital knowledge and connections in the world of Citizen Science. Specialized knowledge about data collection, interpretation, and storytelling about Citizen Science can raise the profile of an Environmental Reporter.

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Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Lawyers use their knowledge of the law to protect the environment. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course may prove helpful to an Environmental Lawyer as they develop a thorough understanding of citizen science and its role in environmental policy.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course may be useful to a Project Manager who oversees projects that involve citizen science.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists are responsible for managing the public image of organizations. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course may be useful to a Public Relations Specialist who works for an organization that is involved in citizen science.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing and developing software applications. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course may be useful to a Software Engineer who works on software applications for citizen science projects.

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Web Developer

Web Developers are responsible for designing and developing websites. The Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability course may be useful to a Web Developer who works on websites for citizen science projects.

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Transformative Citizen Science for Sustainability

What you'll learn

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical framework for citizen science

Activities

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