Citizen Science - Insights, opportunities and approaches for biomedical research

Dr Erinma Ochu, Engagement FellowLife Sciences, University of Manchester

Citizen Science:Approaches, Opportunities & Insights for biomedical research

Definitions/ Approaches

Citizen Science

Usually unpaid individuals & interest groups contributing to scientific experiments

• Crowdsourced science– Complex problem, wisdom & power of crowd to create,

analyse, collect datasets – mainly research benefits• Co-design (or extreme citizen science)

– Public participate in setting research question(s), methods and/ or analysis to address social need

• DIYBIO – network of hobbyists & biohackers DIY, hack, open source ethos to labs, equipment, methods

• Variations – Citizen Science with co-design & crowdsourcing elements

1. Research Questions

2. Methods

3. Data analysis

4. Dissemination

Influencing research

Early Citizen Science

Agnes PocklesCharles Darwin

@citizenbrains www.thegreatbrainexperiment.com

Crowdsourcing Neuroscience

@eye_wire http://eyewire.org

See end slide for resources links

1. New Research Questions

2. Novel Methods

3. Creating datasets

4. New cultural experiences

Public Engagement

HOOKED!Albinomosquito: www.albinomosquito.com/

Publications & Resources• Guide to Citizen Science:

http://www.ukeof.org.uk/documents/guide-to-citizen-science.pdf

• Centre for Social Justice, Durham Ethical Guidance: http://www.dur.ac.uk/beacon/socialjustice/ethics_consultation/

• Making is Connecting: the social meaning of connectivity, from DIY and knitting to YouTube and Web 2.0. Polity Press 2011

http://www.makingisconnecting.org

• Beyond research in the wild: citizen-led research as a model for innovation in the digital economy: http://www.de2012.org/sites/default/files/digitalfutures2012papers/Papers/Session1BTalesofEngagement/Whittle_etal_BeyondRitW.pdf

• Regional development in health and social services in the UK: ‘edge effects’ and sustainable change in welfare organisations (1995)

erinma.ochu@manchester.ac.uk