Citizen Science 

The widely used expression Citizen Science refers to a particular form of interaction between the academic sector and society. To avoid any confusion with Science Outreach activities, one may prefer the translation Participatory Science. 

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cience Outreach and Citizen Science are indeed two complementary but distinct approaches. Science Outreach aims to promote the circulation of knowledge by making it accessible and understandable to everyone, while Citizen Science aims to actively involve the public in the scientific research process itself. Since these two approaches contribute to a better understanding and greater integration of society into science, it is logical that they coexist and complement each other. However, due to their specificities, each may rely on dedicated stakeholders and/or tools. 

To learn more about the actors involved in Science Outreach at the University of Liège, you can consult the pages of Pôle Muséal & Culturel and Réjouisciences. 

Regarding Citizen Science, even if the best‑known example is the involvement of citizens in data collection—already well established in fields such as ecology, meteorology, or astrophysics—Citizen science goes further by including problem formulation, the identification of research questions, data analysis, the production of qualitative knowledge, participation in the dissemination and appropriation of results, etc. It can therefore potentially include all types of contributions useful to scientific production in its broadest sense, including those classified under the “third sector of research.” 

Regardless of how the scope of these activities may fluctuate, certain principles must absolutely be respected to ensure that they can indeed be considered scientific and participatory: 

• protocols and practices must align with the research standards in effect in the relevant fields; 
• citizens and experts must be involved actively and meaningfully; they are not the subjects of the research. 

Given these elements, the link with open science is obvious. Where ethical and legal constraints allow it, the sharing of data and results from citizen science projects fully contributes to the intended dynamic and to the public interest. Such initiatives help remind us that science is a public good, but they can also contribute to a positive perception of scientific research among the general public through the appropriation of scientific method and rigor. This also contributes to a more realistic perception of research processes within the general public. 

Furthermore, while European and international funding agencies have long been attentive to dissemination activities that ensure visibility of funded projects and their results among the general public (“public engagement”), they are also increasingly sensitive to citizen science activities.