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A Self-Assessment of European Citizen Science Projects on Their Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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  • Nicola Moczek

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Science Programme Society and Nature, 10115 Berlin, Germany
    PSY:PLAN Institute for Architectural and Environmental Psychology, 10245 Berlin, Germany)

  • Silke L. Voigt-Heucke

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Science Programme Society and Nature, 10115 Berlin, Germany
    Animal Behaviour, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Kim G. Mortega

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Science Programme Society and Nature, 10115 Berlin, Germany)

  • Claudia Fabó Cartas

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Science Programme Society and Nature, 10115 Berlin, Germany
    European Citizen Science Association (ECSA), 10115 Berlin, Germany)

  • Jörn Knobloch

    (Museum für Naturkunde, Science Programme Society and Nature, 10115 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

In theoretical frameworks, it is often assumed that citizen science projects contribute to the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because of their participatory character and the potential for social transformation. To bring a practical perspective into the dialogue, we designed a survey to obtain direct assessments of the contribution of citizen science to the SDGs by European project participants. We launched the survey across European science networks in 2020 and evaluated 125 questionnaires. Participants reported contributing most to three of the SDGs: ‘Good health and well-being’, ‘Quality education’, and Life on Land’. Additionally, our results provide evidence that, with ongoing advocacy, citizen science projects in Europe could support all SDGs in the future. Seventy-two percent of participants indicated that their projects are involved in data acquisition and 30% stated to report data, but 19% do not pass on data at all. Our findings indicate further that European citizen science projects lack infrastructures and institutional support to facilitate data sharing. We recommend a focus on the promotion or creation of interfaces, for example, between projects and UN databases. Finally, we advise that citizen science projects, some of which operate with little funding, should not be overburdened with inflated expectations as a means of implementing the SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Moczek & Silke L. Voigt-Heucke & Kim G. Mortega & Claudia Fabó Cartas & Jörn Knobloch, 2021. "A Self-Assessment of European Citizen Science Projects on Their Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1774-:d:494899
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katharina Schleicher & Constanze Schmidt, 2020. "Citizen Science in Germany as Research and Sustainability Education: Analysis of the Main Forms and Foci and Its Relation to the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Schot, Johan & Steinmueller, W. Edward, 2018. "Three frames for innovation policy: R&D, systems of innovation and transformative change," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9), pages 1554-1567.
    3. Sauermann, Henry & Vohland, Katrin & Antoniou, Vyron & Balázs, Bálint & Göbel, Claudia & Karatzas, Kostas & Mooney, Peter & Perelló, Josep & Ponti, Marisa & Samson, Roeland & Winter, Silvia, 2020. "Citizen science and sustainability transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(5).
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