Committing to diversity in participants, participation and knowledge production: place-based insights from the community science of Soilsafe Aotearoa

Researchers have an obligation to study aspects of our world that have meaning for society. This means recognising a place-based diversity of society, of potential participants, of types of participation and of knowledge production. Therefore, developing a successful community science (CS) programme that engenders a sense of ownership for a diversity of public participants requires the prioritisation of getting to know what diverse participants value and the context of that valuation. This paper describes the necessary rigour of considering the launch of the CS programme Soilsafe Aotearoa (SA) in 2021, and its subsequent implementation and evolution based on a project commitment to diversity of social values of soil in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ), delivering on public demand. We discuss how SA engages with the community by scientific screening soil metal contaminants in participants’ backyards, as well as through inclusive education and knowledge co-production in schools and community spaces. The objective in this work is to generate wider participation and dialogue on a diversity of soil value(s) so that communities in Aotearoa NZ are cognisant of what soil might represent to others, and to contextualise what a lack of soil care might mean for them and society more broadly. Here we argue that a diversity of participants and participation can support a more inclusive and contextual, place-based CS approach. We illustrate how that might be achieved through bridging arts, Indigenous knowledge production, and social, as well as conventional sciences. Through an approach that recognises that values about the world are tied to participants’ geographic, demographic and cultural contexts as well as the sectors of society they work and live with, we demonstrate the importance of researchers’ attention to not just scientific enquiry, but intersections of different knowledge production and communication for better societal and science outcomes.