Preparation of citizen science activities in climate citizens' assemblies
Citizen science already plays a role across a wide range of areas, including government, academia, education, and civil society, demonstrating its adaptability and relevance. Citizen scientists are not only informed participants but also active contributors who can develop and share in-depth knowledge on key issues, from identifying concerns to tracking the outcomes of policy recommendations. Within the context of climate citizens’ assemblies, their involvement can help shift away from top-down decision-making structures and infuse the process with greater dynamism and inclusivity. The potential for citizen science to enhance climate assemblies is considerable when organizers are willing to embrace and apply citizen-generated knowledge.
Below, we outline essential considerations for those responsible for designing citizen science activities within the climate assembly, whether they are organizers or third parties involved in activity planning. We use as an example a climate assembly focused on air quality.
Organization
Understanding who is organising the climate assembly and their main goals is crucial for aligning citizen science initiatives with the assembly's objectives. Knowing the organisers provides insights into their expertise, resources, and networks, which can help in effectively integrating citizen science. Defining the assembly's goals ensures that citizen science actions are targeted and relevant.
Who is organizing the assembly?
What kind of assembly are you running (e.g., local, regional, national)?
What are the main objectives of the assembly?
Whether the assembly is organised by a government or a group of high school students, access to citizen science projects may vary depending on available resources and expertise—but meaningful activities are still possible. For example, if the assembly’s main goal is to improve urban air quality, students might collect air pollution data around their school or participate in educational activities on air quality monitoring. Meanwhile, government-led assemblies could collaborate with environmental agencies to use citizen-generated data to raise public awareness and inform targeted policy recommendations.
Timeline
Establishing the timeline and identifying the current stage of the assembly’s organizational process is vital for planning the integration of citizen science. A clear timeline helps organizers choose appropriate moments to introduce citizen science activities and ensures that these are meaningfully incorporated without disrupting the process.
At what stage of the organizational process are you currently?
What are the key upcoming actions (e.g., contacting experts, participant selection, recommendation drafting)?
What is the overall timeline from planning to implementation?
When would be the best moment to introduce citizen science activities?
For instance, if the assembly is in its early planning stage, there is greater flexibility to integrate more ambitious and impactful citizen science activities—such as an air quality monitoring campaign that runs throughout the entire process. However, if the assembly is already planned and citizen science was not part of the original agenda, lighter activities—such as discussion-based sessions focused on interpreting existing data—may be more appropriate.
Topics
Identifying and understanding the specific topics, dilemmas, or concerns to be addressed during the assembly is essential for aligning citizen science projects with these issues. This ensures that the citizen-generated data and insights are directly relevant and can effectively inform the deliberative process. Clear topics also help in recruiting the right experts and designing relevant citizen science activities.
Have the main topics or dilemmas been defined?
What specific issues will the assembly focus on (e.g., air quality, renewable energy, biodiversity)?
Can these topics be explored or enriched through citizen science activities?
For example, if the assembly is focused on urban air pollution, citizen science activities can involve residents using low-cost sensors or mobile apps to monitor nitrogen dioxide or particulate matter levels. These insights can help prioritize interventions in pollution hotspots and guide local environmental strategies.
Knowledge uptaking
Involving experts and practitioners who are knowledgeable about the local context and the specific topics of the assembly is critical for providing accurate and relevant information for the assembly. Understanding how these experts will contribute, whether through talks, workshops, or debates, helps in planning how citizen science actions can complement expert input and enrich the discussions.
Have you identified relevant experts for the selected topics?
How will these experts contribute (e.g., talks, workshops, advisory roles)?
Are this experts involved in citizen science or participatory practices?
How can citizen science complement or substitute expert contributions?
In an air quality-focused assembly, environmental scientists and public health experts that participate in air quality citizen science projects can explain pollution sources and health impacts, while citizen science groups contribute hyper-local air quality data. This combination of expert and community knowledge creates a fuller picture and stronger foundation for recommendations.
Citizen science in context
Knowing about existing citizen science projects, offices, observatories, and participatory science communities in the local context is fundamental for leveraging these resources in the climate assembly. These existing structures can provide valuable data, engaged participants, and proven methodologies that can be integrated into the assembly’s processes, enhancing its inclusivity and long-term impact.
Are there active citizen science projects in your region?
Are there local institutions involved in participatory science (e.g., citizen science offices, citizen observatories, science shops, or other forms of open and participatory science)?
How can you collaborate with or build upon these existing efforts?
For instance, in many cities, local NGOs and schools are already involved in air quality monitoring initiatives. These existing efforts can be integrated into the assembly to provide data and also to involve young people and communities directly in climate-related discussions. Furthemore there are existing and organised (e.g., citizen observatories) infrastructures working on citizen science that can be integrated in climate assemblies.
Citizen-generated data
Defining the types of data to be collected and how citizen-generated data will be incorporated into the decision-making process is essential for ensuring that the assembly benefits from grassroots insights. This integration not only enriches the data pool but also empowers citizens by validating their contributions and ensuring they have a tangible impact on the assembly’s outcomes.
What types of data will be needed for the assembly?
Can any of this data be generated or gathered by citizens?
How will the data be used in the assembly's decision-making process?
What ethical or quality considerations need to be addressed?
Citizens might use handheld air quality monitors or mobile apps to collect data on pollutants like PM2.5 or NO₂ near their homes, schools, or workplaces. This data can be used to highlight disparities in air pollution exposure and support discussions around urban planning and transportation policies during the assembly.
Engagement and participation
Encouraging broad citizen participation and ensuring diverse perspectives are included is crucial for the legitimacy and success of the climate assembly. Additionally, involving citizens in specific science activities can enhance their understanding and investment in the issues being discussed.
What strategies will you use to encourage citizen participation in the climate assembly?
How will you ensure that a diverse range of voices and perspectives are included along the assembly process?
Could be possible to engage a group of citizens of the assembly in a particular citizen science activity?
In an assembly focused on air quality, involving participants in a neighbourhood air monitoring campaign not only builds data but also increases personal investment in the issue. Participants may then better understand how pollution varies by area, time of day, or traffic patterns—bringing this experience into deliberations.
Accountability, transparency and impact
Ensuring accountability, transparency, and measuring the impact of the assembly’s recommendations are key to maintaining public trust and demonstrating the value of citizen contributions, and citizen science can contribute on that. Knowing the mechanisms for monitoring and follow-up activities during the assembly can help to implement citizen science actions.
Are there mechanisms to ensure accountability for the assembly’s outcomes?
How will you measure and communicate the impact of recommendations?
Can citizen science be used to monitor follow-up actions?
After the assembly, citizens involved in air quality monitoring could continue collecting data to track changes and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented recommendations, such as traffic restrictions or green buffer zones. This follow-up reinforces accountability and shows visible impact over time.
Additional considerations
Identifying potential challenges in incorporating citizen science into the climate assembly and support from other organizations and stakeholders is essential to plan citizen science actions.
What challenges might arise in integrating citizen science?
What kind of support (technical, institutional, financial) will be needed?
Are there potential partners who could help (e.g., NGOs, universities, local groups)?
For instance, a rural assembly addressing air quality might lack access to expensive sensors. Partnering with a university or NGO could help them access low-cost monitoring kits and training, enabling them to gather meaningful data despite limited resources.
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