1. Citizen Science in the policy arena www.discoverycircle.org.au
Dr Philip Roetman, University of South Australia

2. What is Citizen Science?
Professional researchers engage the public to collect or analyse data within a cooperative framework of research and education

3. What is Citizen Science?
Professional researchers engage the public to collect or analyse data within a cooperative framework of research and education

4. Projects run exclusively by scientists
Number of participants
Training
or skills
Scale (spatial/temporal)
Complexity
Projects run in partnership with Citizen Scientists

5. LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS Projects run exclusively by scientists
Number of participants
Training
or skills
Scale (spatial/temporal)
Complexity
LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS
Projects run in partnership with Citizen Scientists

6. FOCUSSED PROJECTS LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS
Projects run exclusively
by scientists
Number of participants
Training
or skills
Scale (spatial/temporal)
Complexity
FOCUSSED PROJECTS
LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS
Projects run in partnership with Citizen Scientists

7. NO GO FOCUSSED PROJECTS LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS Projects run exclusively
by scientists
Number of participants
Training
or skills
Scale (spatial/temporal)
Complexity
NO GO
FOCUSSED PROJECTS
LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS
Projects run in partnership with Citizen Scientists

8. What is Citizen Science?

9. What is Citizen Science?

10. Styles of Citizen Science (84 Australian projects)
Citizen science in Australia:
Styles of Citizen Science (84 Australian projects)
Source: 2014 ACSA survey results

11. Outcomes of citizen science (92 Australian projects)
Citizen science in Australia:
Outcomes of citizen science (92 Australian projects)
Source: 2014 ACSA survey results

12. Pathways from citizen science into policy

13. Impacts on policy: environmental data
CASE STUDY: Reef Life Survey
Zoning assessment and development of plans for marine parks
Baseline and ongoing monitoring programs
Major dataset towards national State of the Marine Environment reporting
CASE STUDY: Marine Debris Surveys
Data on types of marine debris informed change in commercial fishing industry
Informed legislation to reduce specific sources of marine debris
CASE STUDY: Powerful Owl Project
Changed land management practices (e.g. fire management)
CASE STUDY: Waterwatch NSW
Contributed to development of state-gazetted water sharing plans
These examples are largely BOTTOM-UP

14. Influencing policy makers (bottom-up)
IF a project has a policy outcome goal, strategies need to be better targeted to enable influence over policy
Deliberate Design: fit-for-purpose projects
Some projects benefit from critical mass
Appropriate partnerships
Quality control and assurance

15. Data for policy: environmental + social
Environmental data
~500 people/1500 koalas
Social data
(583 respondents)
Species
distribution model
“Fit for purpose” for policy writing (TOP-DOWN design)
Engaged and knowledgeable participants and onlookers

16. Deliberate design for policy development

17. Deliberate design for policy development
Sharing knowledge, bottom-up support
Bottom-up support, access to community knowledge (environmental, social, and policy options)
Sharing knowledge (social and environmental)

18. Partnering with policy makers (top-down)
Walters et al. (2000) framework for public involvement:
‘Discovery’ to define issues and alternatives
‘Education’ about issues and alternatives
‘Measurement’ of public opinion
‘Persuasion’ towards a desired alternative
‘Legitimization’ of the decisions
CASE STUDIES
Reef Life Survey Contributes to step 1
Great Koala Count Designed for step 3, Also had some impact on participants (steps 2, 4 and 5)

19. Additional observations

20. What
was the
Impact?

21. Cat Tracker: evaluation survey
Learning:
71% reported learning
For respondents whose cats were tracked:
46% - cats went further than expected
71% - something surprising or interesting
31% location
24% distance
16% roads or railways

22. Cat Tracker: evaluation survey
Attitude change: n
Pre- survey
Post- Survey
% change
Importance of day-time containment
Tracking participants
114
8.8%
44.7%
+410.0%
Importance of night-time containment
117
65.0%
82.1%
+26.3%

23. Cat Tracker: evaluation survey
Behaviour change:
Tracked cats: 27%
Non-tracked cats: 12%
69% - cat indoors more
36% would manage a new cat differently

24. Impact of the Great Koala Count
(Hollow et al. 2014)
learnt new things
changed opinions
Participants
(n = 454)
65%
19%
Onlookers
(n = 82)
63%
38%

25. Reach of the Great Koala Count
learnt new things
changed opinions
reach
Participants
(n = 454)
65%
19%
472
Onlookers
(n = 82)
63%
38%
26,000+

26. Changing attitudes and behaviours…

27. Project assessment template
Developed to assist SA Environment Department assess citizen science opportunities in evaluation of Marine Parks
STEP 1: NEEDS ANALYSIS
Identify institutional requirements for:
Research
Education
Community Engagement
Each could be policy related
STEP 2: ALIGNMENT WITH AGENCY NEEDS
STEP 3: PROJECT ANALYSIS (see image)
AVAILABLE AT:

28. Influencing the policy cycle
Deliberate design for policy development
Be clear in outcomes – what impact, what type of policy?
How can environmental and/or social data assist?
Top-down or bottom-up (impact on/of the community)