On Citizen Science: A Dual Talk

Description

Have you ever considered using citizen science as a method for involving the public directly and meaningfully in your research? It can be done in any field and in a huge variety of ways - and yes, data from the public can be valid and reliable! In this seminar, Gitte Kragh from Science Studies at Department of Mathemathics at Aarhus University will provide an introduction to citizen science and some of the funding possibilities for public participation in scientific research.

In the second presentation of this seminar, Peter Danholt from Digital Design and Information Studies at Aarhus University will draw on main insights from the broad field of science, technology and society studies (STS), relevant to citizen science. One point is that science(s) and technology development is way too important and world transforming, to be left to a minority of so-called experts. Another is that science(s) has in fact never been secluded from society, instead science(s) and society are mutually implicated and thoroughly intertwined. Thirdly, science(s) rather than placing themselves as something that should be left alone and not to be disturbed by ‘public concerns’, needs to be re-thought. According to science studies scholar and Aarhus University honorary doctor, Isabelle Stengers, science(s) must work closely with those to whom it comes to matter, not just for democratic reasons, but also because this is how science(s) become better at posing problems.

On a final note, Peter Danholt wishes to point to the importance of ‘engaging the data-moment’ as a matter of concern for all of us. The increasing digitisation and datafication of society is a moment that calls for mobilisation on multiple levels, especially since society is being digitally infrastructured in ways that few, if any, can fully grasp.

Period	5 Feb 2024
Held at	Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies