Community Science vs. Citizen Science

The term  “community science” is the evolution of what has been known as “citizen  science”, a term that first appeared in 1989 and has since taken off.  The general idea is to involve community members in a scientific  endeavor that generates knowledge and understanding. Community members  have the opportunity to contribute, collaborate, and even lead efforts  that are meaningful for science.

Historically,  there has been a distinction between community science and citizen  science Generally, folks have seen citizen science as being more  science-focused or legitimate, with the goal for data collection being  scientific advancement, and typically with a broad or global scope.  Whereas, community science has been seen as primarily a localized effort  for a social justice issue.

Our global climate crisis has changed that.

The  accelerated crisis has helped organizations to understand that science  no longer has the luxury to be positioned as something conducted only by  professionals in institutions, focused on extraction, and at a distance  from the communities most impacted by environmental and public health  challenges. Organizations have since embraced the term “community  science” — because community science disrupts that model. Additionally,  the term “community” does a better job of communicating science  resulting from collaboration rather than alienation.

It’s More Than Data Collection

At its  best, community science reshapes who gets to produce knowledge, whose  observations matter, and how decisions about land, health, and resources  are made. We do this by inviting residents, students, and local  organizations to co-create research questions, gather data, and  interpret the results — all grounded in lived experience. Shifting from  extraction to participation changes the process and the outcomes of this  important work that impacts science.

But…how?

Some of the most widely used tools the Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter uses for this work include iNaturalist and eBird. iNaturalist is a digital community science platform that allows folks to record  plants, animals, fungi by adding to an accessible record of life on  earth — all it takes is a photo or a soundbyte. eBird is a platform that allows birders of all levels to contribute their  observations that inform biodiversity research. Without these tools, it  would be impossible for any single institution to amass the data that  has been collected alone; this demonstrates that distributed  participation is the only way to create massive datasets that help us to  be proactive in the age of climate change.

Our Favs

Here at  the Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter, one of our favorite parts of  community science projects is the fact that it creates unique pathways  for knowledge sharing, documentation, validation, and advocacy. We get  the chance to use digital tools to mobilize communities to learn about  their environment and use their knowledge to shape policy, action, and  accountability. For example:

• Last  year, during the New Haven Christmas Bird Count, we had community  conversations about the fluctuations in various bird species within the  decade.

• A couple  of years ago, during Black Birder’s Week, Bridgeport community members  learned about Monk Parakeets and ways to advocate for their nesting  habitat.

• More  recently, the City of Bridgeport has called for Bioblitz to be conducted  assessing the biodiversity of the city of Bridgeport.

Community  science also builds environmental literacy in a way that feels relevant  and meaningful to frontline communities. Instead of abstract lessons  about biodiversity, ecosystems, and climate change, community members  get to engage directly with their environments — tracking, monitoring,  and documenting the things around them. All based on the understanding  that we are most likely to care for what’s in our community and what  we’ve studied.

“If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone; If You Want To Go Far, Go Together” A Globally Created Proverb

With an  accelerated climate crisis (and the absence of a cloning machine to make  more scientists), it is evident that we need all hands on deck. We can  no longer be confined to formal credentials — rather we have the  opportunity to engage diverse perspectives and create meaningful  solutions. These projects take the shape of bioblitz,  bird walks, community garden monitoring, etc. where people come gather,  share stories, and build commonality around a shared environment.  However, community science projects do have challenges which might  include access to technology, technology complications, data quality,  community mobilization, or even how to involve volunteers in decision  making, not just data collection. Nonetheless, it is a powerful model  for our future

Four  years ago, Glenn E. Martin, tweeted “people closest to the problem are  closest to the solution but furthest from power and resources.”  Unfortunately, that remains the case especially in a time of  accelerating environmental change and growing inequities. However,  community science begins to bring power and resources to communities who  are at the frontline of the climate crisis. It is a practical and  hopeful, place-based approach that builds collective knowledge.

Although  there is no pause button for this crisis, we have the tools to build  resilience and adaptable responses — one photo and soundbyte at a time,  driven by the people most connected to any particular place.

Jhoni  Ada is Sierra Club Connecticut’s Organizer on Save Remington Woods  project in Bridgeport, along with other outreach and projects within the  city and Fairfield County.