Science can be defined as a shared and systematic process involving observation and experimentation to arrive at answers to questions or solutions to problems, so citizen science as an application of science further:
- integrates scientific culture and education with indigenous knowledge for methodical and comprehensive approach to problem definition;
- focuses on easy participation by anyone, anytime, anywhere for more inclusive and higher resolution in problem evidence;
- promotes collaboration in discovery and action for transparency, awareness, and engagement in solution approach;
- emphasizes and encourages science for public good leading to more humane solution outcome
Once Upon a Time…
Not so far away… people in the past were curious. Away from virtual environments and subjected to the reality of natural changes throughout the day, months and years, they wondered how things changed over time according to weather and seasonal patterns. In cases where it became beneficial to predict or project these regular changes, our predecessors measured and recorded details that would one day become known as citizen science activities.
The phrase ‘citizen science’ is attributable to Alan Irwin, a sociologist currently at the Copenhagen Business School, from the title of his book from the mid-1990s: Citizen Science – A Study of People, Expertise and Sustainable Development. He notes in the preface of his book that the phrase “conveys both senses of the relationship between science and citizens” in that “a science which assists the needs and concerns of citizens” and as “a form of science developed and enacted by the citizens themselves.”
The modern iteration of citizen science as structured programs employing multiple observers can arguably traced back to Wells Cooke, a member of the American Ornithologists Union in the late 1800s. As part of his work focused on bird migration, he coordinated the first-ever cooperative study of migratory birds which eventually grew to having ornithologists cover the entire Mississippi valley (the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent so not a small area!)
Going back further, despite it not being called citizen science nor coordinated intentionally, it is debatable that the world’s longest-running citizen science project may be a 1200-year-old tradition of collecting records on cherry blossom every spring in Japan. Records of Kyoto Cherry Blossom Festival go as far back as the 8th century and has been proven as useful evidence for tracking climate changes over the course of the long period.
What are the Opportunities & Challenges of Citizen Science in Asia?
Despite a long tradition of citizen science-like observations and recordings in practice in Asia, the modern concept to be applied in research and contributory projects is relatively unknown and slow to be adopted. Combined factors owing to long-standing cultural traditions of top-down decisions, wide margins in socio-economic growths between varying Asian nations, and some extreme terrains, make behavioral, priority and logistical changes to embrace a different paradigm difficult.
Citizen science through its utility though does help to open the mindset of participants that their contribution can drive action to improvement and initiate dialogues with policy makers through grassroot findings and collaboration.
With huge challenges ahead as a result of climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity and insufficient resource in official professional capacity to handle the issues, it will be critical for everyone to be part of the solution especially with Asia accounting for nearly 60% of the world’s population.
It is critical to also overcome the vast diversity that is in Asia and embrace the incredible perspective and facets to provide groundtruth to scientific research data, not to mention the wealth of non-traditional data that can be derived from pockets of indigenous knowledge as complementary sources.
