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A Systematic Literature Review on the Participation Aspects of Environmental and Nature-Based Citizen Science Initiatives

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  • Michalis A. Vasiliades

    (Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, Limassol 3304, Cyprus)

  • Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

    (Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, Limassol 3304, Cyprus
    Cyprus Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Nicosia 1434, Cyprus)

  • Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi

    (Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, Limassol 3304, Cyprus
    Cyprus Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Nicosia 1434, Cyprus)

  • Anastasia Adamou

    (Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, Limassol 3304, Cyprus)

  • Yiannis Georgiou

    (Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, Limassol 3304, Cyprus
    Cyprus Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Nicosia 1434, Cyprus)

Abstract

It is commonly argued that, despite the tremendous resonance Citizen Science (CS) has shown in recent years, there is still lack of understanding of important aspects defining citizens’ participation and engagement in CS initiatives. While CS initiatives could provide a vehicle to foster forms of participation contributing to the democratization of science, there is still limited attention paid to the “Citizen” component of the Citizen Science term. For the purpose of this work, we systematically reviewed the available literature for empirical studies in respect to citizens’ participation in environmental and nature-based CS initiatives established during the last two decades, using the PRISMA methodology. The participatory facet of the retrieved 119 CS initiatives was analysed on the basis of: (a) exclusion and inclusion demographic factors, (b) CS models and practices, (c) facilitators and constraints of citizen’s participation, and (d) environmental citizenship. Our findings show that the majority of the CS initiatives did not place restrictions on gender participation; however, we have identified that mostly highly educated adults participated in the reviewed initiatives. In addition, most of the CS initiatives reported in the literature were situated in the EU and USA, were mostly limited to the local scale, and primarily followed the contributory model. Academic institutions were found to coordinate the majority of the CS initiatives examined. By using digital technologies, academic scientists were able to control and increase data quality, as well as to engage a broader audience, even though they were mostly treating volunteers as “data collectors”, desiring their long-term engagement. Therefore, it will be of CS benefit to be better aligned with the mentality and needs of citizens. In this direction CS initiatives should trigger citizens’ learning gains and interpersonal/social benefits and personal, environmental, and social motivations, but also to shift their goals towards contributing to science and citizens’ connection with nature. On the other hand, there is a need to overcome any design and implementation barriers, and to enhance democratization through a more participative engagement of active and aware citizens, thus promoting environmental citizenship.

Suggested Citation

  • Michalis A. Vasiliades & Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis & Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi & Anastasia Adamou & Yiannis Georgiou, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review on the Participation Aspects of Environmental and Nature-Based Citizen Science Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-27, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7457-:d:588134
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mingers, John & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2015. "A review of theory and practice in scientometrics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 246(1), pages 1-19.
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    5. Miguel Ángel Queiruga-Dios & Emilia López-Iñesta & María Diez-Ojeda & María Consuelo Sáiz-Manzanares & José Benito Vázquez Dorrío, 2020. "Citizen Science for Scientific Literacy and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals in Formal Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, May.
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    2. Wajeeh Daher & Amal Omar & Hadeel Swaity & Bushra Allan & Sarah Dar Issa & Zahera Amer & Aseel Halabi, 2022. "Upper-Basic Schoolteachers’ Beliefs about Their Students’ Awareness of Digital Citizenship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-11, October.
    3. Anna Berti Suman & Edwin Alblas, 2023. "Exploring Citizen Science over Time: Sensing, Technology and the Law," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Anastasia Adamou & Yiannis Georgiou & Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi & Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis, 2021. "Environmental Citizen Science Initiatives as a Springboard towards the Education for Environmental Citizenship: A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-29, December.

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