There’s a debate in the scientific community about the terms citizen science and community science. Some scientists have asked whether the term “citizen” is a barrier to inclusion, since many organizations have rebranded programs as “community science.”
Citizen scientists are overwhelmingly white adults, with above-median incomes and with a college degree. In other words, citizen science is not truly open and available to all members of society, particularly those who are underrepresented in scientific organizations.
But a group of scientists – including Colorado State University Associate Professor Gillian Bowser – said that choosing between these terms is not the most important topic for discussion. What’s more important, she said, is broadening participation in citizen science.
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