Furthering Science and public engagement: natural history museums as centers to develop and promote citizen science

Through their unique combination of collections, scientific and public engagement expertise, and wide audience reach and trust, natural history museums (NHMs) can form fantastic hubs for citizen science. Over the past decade... [ view full abstract ]

Through their unique combination of collections, scientific and public engagement expertise, and wide audience reach and trust, natural history museums (NHMs) can form fantastic hubs for citizen science. Over the past decade an incredible diversity of NHM-based citizen science projects have emerged, with widely differing ambitions: from engaging visitors of all ages in the process of biodiversity and environmental research, to digitizing specimen information, delivering public-facing exhibits and training teachers and educators.

This panel discussion will explore the experiences of a series of NHMs that have active and successful citizen science programs. It will share key findings, identify critical questions and knowledge gaps, and involve the audience in a lively debate about the role that NHMs can play in developing citizen science as a field.

As researchers and practitioners, the panel will examine the concrete ways in which NHMs can bring citizen science to new audiences, conduct relevant research in an urban context, and embody the integration of scientific research with education and outreach goals that the field of citizen science strives for. In light of this potential, we ask what has worked and what hasn’t, what questions can citizen science in museums help to answer, and what can we learn from NHMs particular ability to provide multiple entry points, multiple levels of engagement and multiple forms of citizen science all under one “roof” – whether physical or virtual? At the same time, how can citizen science advance the goals of natural history museums and similar institutions that focus on both research and education?

These questions and more will engage panelists and participants in discussion of the fundamental question: how can we improve the capacity of both natural history museums and citizen science as a whole to address key scientific challenges, as well as education and engagement of public audiences.