Improving digital citizen science by learning from volunteer practices in biodiversity monitoring

This summary report offers citizen science practitioners research insights and recommendations for community engagement in support of the ongoing transition to digital citizen science.

Over 50% of biodiversity records submitted to Australia’s national biodiversity database (the Atlas of Living Australia) are contributed by volunteer citizen scientists. Most of these records are generated through “contributory” citizen science programs, in which research design, data analysis, dissemination, and other practices are the responsibility of the organizing institutions, while volunteers are invited to primarily contribute data. These citizen science programs are increasingly using digital tools - such as smartphone apps and web portals - to facilitate data collection by volunteers.

It is critical to the success of these programs to understand the experiences of citizen scientists in engaging with biodiversity and contributing to monitoring through such digital tools. This can help inform program design to improve participation and increase data quantity and quality, supporting the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity.

This social science research project asked:

1. What are the knowledge practices of biodiversity citizen scientists (do they ‘just’ collect data in contributory citizen science)?
2. In what ways are digital technologies re-shaping the participation of volunteers?
3. How do volunteers care about and for the digital data they produce?

The research investigated two contributory biodiversity citizen science programs in Australia: one in which volunteers are invited to monitor frog populations and the other, the breeding success of birds. Both programs have run for over 20 years and have shifted from analogue technologies (such as cassette recordings and pen-and-paper surveys) to digital surveys for data collection (smartphone app and website portal). Nowadays, both programs also offer digital training to volunteers.

Cite as: Gonzalez Canada, D., Lavau, S. and Williams, K.J.H. (2024) Improving digital citizen science by learning from volunteer practices in biodiversity monitoring (Technical Report No. 24.8). Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership. http://doi.org/10.26188/28636739