On November 21, a discussion took place at the University Campus Library, where the project “Development of Citizen Science Activities at KTU” was presented, and issues regarding citizen science initiatives and the activities of the Citizen Science Hub were discussed. The discussion brought together university lecturers, researchers, and administrative representatives who shared their insights on citizen science projects and explored the potential functions of the Citizen Science Hub to meet the needs of both university researchers and the broader community.
What is Citizen Science?
The discussion was initiated by Eglė Butkevičienė, who introduced the citizen science initiatives at the University and the project “Development of Citizen Science Activities at KTU”, which was launched this year. This project aims to develop citizen science activities to increase the involvement of Kaunas University of Technology community in citizen science projects and to promote the involvement and participation of members of the society in scientific research, and cooperation between scientists and the society in solving issues and challenges that are relevant to society. E. Butkevičienė also provided an overview of the current state of citizen science in Lithuania and globally, emphasizing the benefits such projects bring to both society and academic institutions.
The presentation was followed by Aistė Pranckutė, who highlighted library-led projects related to citizen science and public involvement. She referenced discussions initiated during the “LibOCS” project regarding the development directions and priorities for expanding citizen science activities within the university community.
Library director Gintarė Tautkevičienė presented the results of a university-wide survey on citizen science among researchers. The survey garnered significant interest, with lecturers, researchers, and administrative representatives sharing their opinions and offering valuable suggestions on citizen science initiatives and the activities of the Citizen Science Hub. The findings revealed a positive attitude towards citizen science among the university community, as well as interest and readiness to engage in citizen science projects. During the focused discussion, participants emphasized the need to deepen their knowledge of citizen science and public engagement, as well as their expectation of comprehensive support in conducting research, which would encourage their involvement in or initiation of citizen science projects.
Functions and activities of the Citizen Science Hub
In the second part of the discussion, participants shared their perspectives on citizen science, underlining its significance for society and the university. They also debated the role of the Citizen Science Hub at the university and its potential benefits for both researchers and the public. The general consensus was that the activities of the Citizen Science Hub align with KTU’s broader strategy and could enhance collaboration between the university and the community.
Participants unanimously agreed that citizen science projects are important and beneficial for addressing societal challenges and should therefore be given due attention. Involving individuals or groups from the community in scientific research helps provide a deeper understanding of community-specific issues, which researchers often view solely from a scientific perspective. Voluntary participation by citizens was identified as a key factor in the success of citizen science projects. It was also suggested that university students could contribute to these initiatives by helping to address problems arising within their communities.
The need for support and training for researchers to engage more actively in citizen science activities was emphasized. Such training should cover the fundamentals of citizen science, methodologies, principles for involving and retaining volunteers in research, and more. Many participants agreed that citizen science can be a powerful tool for solving societal problems but requires appropriate methodological preparation and effective communication. These activities were identified as priorities for the Citizen Science Hub.
A bridge between scientists and society
The idea of creating a citizen science project platform to enable direct collaboration between scientists and the public was also discussed. Participants highlighted the value of establishing a centralized, local platform where community members and researchers could exchange ideas, register problems for resolution, and collaborate on joint projects. These projects, addressing real and pressing issues with the help of scientific knowledge, could serve as a compelling argument in discussions with decision-makers and bolster public trust in science.
