What is citizen science?
Citizen science is research in which members of the public take part alongside scientists: they observe, collect and analyse data, and sometimes help shape the research question itself.
In short
The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) describes citizen science as an open form of collaboration in which individuals or organisations voluntarily take part in the scientific process, including data collection, analysis and dissemination.
Put simply, it is a way for science and society to work together. Participants do not need a degree. What matters is that the activity meets scientific standards and helps create new knowledge.
What it looks like in Lithuania
- Counting birds at home. In the count "Paukščiai prie mano namų", residents spend one hour counting the birds that visit their homes, and the Lithuanian Ornithological Society uses the data to track population changes.
- Lynx and wolf observations. Reports from hunters, foresters and farmers allowed researchers to estimate how lynx and wolf populations are changing. The Ministry of Environment accepted these data as a complement to other surveys for wolf management policy.
- Litter on riversides. In 2022 and 2023 schoolchildren worked with researchers to study what litter ends up on Lithuanian riversides and where it comes from.
- Health and the urban environment in Kaunas. In a study on neighbourhood environment and health, the research question was formulated by the residents themselves: why is hypertension more common in some districts than in others?
Why it matters
For researchers, citizen science makes it possible to collect data they could not collect alone: across a large area, over a long time, from people's everyday surroundings.
For participants, it is a chance to learn how research is done and to contribute to questions they care about.
For society and decision-makers, it means more trust in science and decisions based on data that residents themselves helped collect.
Not only natural sciences
Citizen science is also used in the social sciences and humanities: to study community resilience, health and cultural heritage. It is close to other forms of participation, such as citizens' assemblies, where randomly selected residents deliberate on public policy questions.
Where to start
- Want to take part? Browse the citizen science initiatives in Lithuania.
- Are you a researcher? Find out who to contact at your institution and see the resources.
- Planning a project? Read the Ten Principles of Citizen Science or get in touch with us.