Comments on: A unified field theory for public participation in scientific research http://www.esa.org/esablog/citizen-science/a-unified-field-theory-for-public-participation-in-scientific-research/ EcoTone focuses on ecological science in the news and its use in policy, conservation and education. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:54:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Liza Lester http://www.esa.org/esablog/citizen-science/a-unified-field-theory-for-public-participation-in-scientific-research/comment-page-1/#comment-38206 Liza Lester Wed, 08 Aug 2012 01:47:57 +0000 http://www.esa.org/esablog/?p=7594#comment-38206 Hi Kristina-- I want to clarify, because I see now that the way I presented Abe's quote could be misleading: no one attending this conference believes that citizen science is "trash science" (I'm think I can say that with confidence). There are folks in the wider science world who have extreme views, either dismissing citizen science, or, perhaps, inflating it's promise, and extremes sometime dominate conversations and media coverage (althoug most of the coverage I have seen has been overwhelmingly positive). Abe joked about the extreme ends of the spectrum, but he was really talking about a lot of citizen science enthusiasts hashing out more moderate opinions on approaches to the field. There are some people who look at the rigor and data collection of citizen science projects with a critical eye, but I think this is a sign of respect. They are holding citizen science to the same high standard as any other research project. Thanks for stopping to comment at EcoTone! I hope you come again. Hi Kristina– I want to clarify, because I see now that the way I presented Abe’s quote could be misleading: no one attending this conference believes that citizen science is “trash science” (I’m think I can say that with confidence). There are folks in the wider science world who have extreme views, either dismissing citizen science, or, perhaps, inflating it’s promise, and extremes sometime dominate conversations and media coverage (althoug most of the coverage I have seen has been overwhelmingly positive). Abe joked about the extreme ends of the spectrum, but he was really talking about a lot of citizen science enthusiasts hashing out more moderate opinions on approaches to the field. There are some people who look at the rigor and data collection of citizen science projects with a critical eye, but I think this is a sign of respect. They are holding citizen science to the same high standard as any other research project.

Thanks for stopping to comment at EcoTone! I hope you come again.

]]> By: Kristina Summers http://www.esa.org/esablog/citizen-science/a-unified-field-theory-for-public-participation-in-scientific-research/comment-page-1/#comment-38204 Kristina Summers Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:48:30 +0000 http://www.esa.org/esablog/?p=7594#comment-38204 I love this post and only had one issue - the term trash science. First of all, I am so glad to see this being put into a discussion forum at such a reputable meeting organization as ESA - perhaps you should know that citizen science projects are of tremendous importance and should never be considered "trash science" as this only widens the gap between scientists (and I use the term to refer to those who are formally trained such as ecologists, biologists, etc) and those who are out there in the field monitoring and completing citizen science projects but are without scientific credentials. Recently I took part in the Scifund Challenge which is specifically designed to help abolish that gap, allowing those of us scientists who desperately need funding to connect with those outside traditional funding channels (I believe you referenced this in your post - crowdfunding or crowdsourcing). This connection of scientists and citizen scientists succeeds in doing many things that I think should be highlighted here: These programs help to do away with science snobbery, (we are no better than anyone else!) it also helps to make science cool for the masses and encourages enrollment in science programs as well as creating more opportunities for those interested in citizen science projects and finally they give those of us who are poor graduate and post graduate researchers more access to funds for our way cool projects! So to sum up - I am so glad this is going to be a discussion, I just hope that those who take part in the discussion will include the two previous rounds of the Scifund Challenge (both were highly successful, raising somewhere in the neighborhood of a million dollars for the researchers involved with real, awesome research projects world-wide. www.scifundchallenge.org) as well as other forms of crowdfunding and the importance of citizen science to getting kids into science education programs. I love this post and only had one issue – the term trash science. First of all, I am so glad to see this being put into a discussion forum at such a reputable meeting organization as ESA – perhaps you should know that citizen science projects are of tremendous importance and should never be considered “trash science” as this only widens the gap between scientists (and I use the term to refer to those who are formally trained such as ecologists, biologists, etc) and those who are out there in the field monitoring and completing citizen science projects but are without scientific credentials. Recently I took part in the Scifund Challenge which is specifically designed to help abolish that gap, allowing those of us scientists who desperately need funding to connect with those outside traditional funding channels (I believe you referenced this in your post – crowdfunding or crowdsourcing). This connection of scientists and citizen scientists succeeds in doing many things that I think should be highlighted here: These programs help to do away with science snobbery, (we are no better than anyone else!) it also helps to make science cool for the masses and encourages enrollment in science programs as well as creating more opportunities for those interested in citizen science projects and finally they give those of us who are poor graduate and post graduate researchers more access to funds for our way cool projects! So to sum up – I am so glad this is going to be a discussion, I just hope that those who take part in the discussion will include the two previous rounds of the Scifund Challenge (both were highly successful, raising somewhere in the neighborhood of a million dollars for the researchers involved with real, awesome research projects world-wide. http://www.scifundchallenge.org) as well as other forms of crowdfunding and the importance of citizen science to getting kids into science education programs.

]]> By: Today’s Wildlife Disease News Stories | Peter Klamka http://www.esa.org/esablog/citizen-science/a-unified-field-theory-for-public-participation-in-scientific-research/comment-page-1/#comment-38161 Today’s Wildlife Disease News Stories | Peter Klamka Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:26:39 +0000 http://www.esa.org/esablog/?p=7594#comment-38161 [...] A unified field theory for public participation in scientific research: Disparate citizen science di... [...] [...] A unified field theory for public participation in scientific research: Disparate citizen science di… [...]

]]> By: Jennifer Shirk http://www.esa.org/esablog/citizen-science/a-unified-field-theory-for-public-participation-in-scientific-research/comment-page-1/#comment-38113 Jennifer Shirk Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:13:33 +0000 http://www.esa.org/esablog/?p=7594#comment-38113 We very much appreciate the support of ESA in hosting this multi-disciplinary event! We very much appreciate the support of ESA in hosting this multi-disciplinary event!

]]>