Research for the people!
The phenomenon of citizen science is taking an ever more important role in a number of research projects all over the world. Aarhus University has been using the method for several years, and now the formation of an interdisciplinary collaboration will ensure that this growing research and communication field has a more formal position in the research toolbox. The new collaboration will be set up at a workshop on 20 August at Aarhus University.
In fact, citizen science is an old discipline. In Denmark, one of the biggest and first examples of the genre was in 1639, when Kirsten Svendsdatter found the Golden Horn in a field near Gallehus in southern Jutland. After making her find, the young woman triggered new research work. There are many such cases in history in a number of research fields covering everything from heaven to earth, and over time, research has found ways to involve the public in many different projects.
"The general public can help research a lot through citizen science, and in Denmark we’re really starting to see the potentials," explains Associate Professor Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen, who is head of the Centre for Science Studies at Aarhus University.
He is one of the authors of a report (in Danish) on the phenomenon, which was published in 2020 by Aarhus University Press. The report is called Citizen Science in Denmark, and it contains insight into the spread of cooperation between the public and research over time. It identifies 64 specific projects with broad institutional anchoring throughout Denmark. The authors have examined citizen-science-related publications in the Danish National Research Database, from which they discovered that from 2014 to 2019 there was an almost ten-fold increase in the number of publications with citizen-science involvement.
The same trend has been observed in other parts of Europe, and in the rest of the world for that matter, and the EU is also active in the area with various H2020 projects. AU is part of the "Time4CS" project, which aims to anchor and integrate the method at research institutions.
"It’s becoming common knowledge that inclusive research can produce scientific results, increase citizen involvement in science in general, increase knowledge about the importance and methods of research, and generate informed debate about science. Comparing citizen science with open science, for example, many interfaces have appeared over time in which ordinary people can make a positive contribution to research, provided we scientists can find the methods to do so," says Krisitan Hvidtfelt Nielsen.
Workshop to focus on citizen research
On the basis of the increasing trend and the recent report, a workshop has been arranged on citizen science at Aarhus University. This will be held on 20 August, and researchers have been invited to contribute with experience and knowledge from projects. The workshop is to consolidate a more focused and interdisciplinary effort to create synergy between faculties and institutions in order to ensure optimum utilisation of the knowledge gained. The workshop is called "Citizen Science @ AU", and the deadline for registration is 17 August.
Registration and further information about the workshop is via this link.
Read more about the EU Time4CS project.
Contact:
Associate Professor Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen,
Centre for Science Studies,
Department of Mathematics
Tel. no.: +45 24458812
Email: khn@css.au.dk
In fact, citizen science is an old discipline. In Denmark, one of the biggest and first examples of the genre was in 1639, when Kirsten Svendsdatter found the Golden Horn in a field near Gallehus in southern Jutland. After making her find, the young woman triggered new research work. There are many such cases in history in a number of research fields covering everything from heaven to earth, and over time, research has found ways to involve the public in many different projects.
"The general public can help research a lot through citizen science, and in Denmark we’re really starting to see the potentials," explains Associate Professor Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen, who is head of the Centre for Science Studies at Aarhus University.
He is one of the authors of a report (in Danish) on the phenomenon, which was published in 2020 by Aarhus University Press. The report is called Citizen Science in Denmark, and it contains insight into the spread of cooperation between the public and research over time. It identifies 64 specific projects with broad institutional anchoring throughout Denmark. The authors have examined citizen-science-related publications in the Danish National Research Database, from which they discovered that from 2014 to 2019 there was an almost ten-fold increase in the number of publications with citizen-science involvement.
The same trend has been observed in other parts of Europe, and in the rest of the world for that matter, and the EU is also active in the area with various H2020 projects. AU is part of the "Time4CS" project, which aims to anchor and integrate the method at research institutions.
"It’s becoming common knowledge that inclusive research can produce scientific results, increase citizen involvement in science in general, increase knowledge about the importance and methods of research, and generate informed debate about science. Comparing citizen science with open science, for example, many interfaces have appeared over time in which ordinary people can make a positive contribution to research, provided we scientists can find the methods to do so," says Krisitan Hvidtfelt Nielsen.
Workshop to focus on citizen research
On the basis of the increasing trend and the recent report, a workshop has been arranged on citizen science at Aarhus University. This will be held on 20 August, and researchers have been invited to contribute with experience and knowledge from projects. The workshop is to consolidate a more focused and interdisciplinary effort to create synergy between faculties and institutions in order to ensure optimum utilisation of the knowledge gained. The workshop is called "Citizen Science @ AU", and the deadline for registration is 17 August.
Registration and further information about the workshop is via this link.
Read more about the EU Time4CS project.
Contact:
Associate Professor Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen,
Centre for Science Studies,
Department of Mathematics
Tel. no.: +45 24458812
Email: khn@css.au.dk
Department of Mathematics