Citizen science in the spotlight: Mohammad featured in the UKrant

Mohammad was recently featured in an UKrant article to discuss how citizen science can help rebuild public trust in research. From tracking light pollution to addressing human-wildlife conflicts in Kenya, the article highlights the power of involving citizens in scientific research.

However, in the article Mohammad emphasizes that citizen science is not a one-size-fits-all solution. He highlights the importance of carefully considering whether involving citizens is feasible, practical or even necessary for a project. This is illustrated with a quote from the article: ‘‘If a chemistry researcher wants to measure chemical components in water, they may seek out the help of citizens, and that makes sense’, Gharesifard says. ‘But would this be something that appeals to the community? Would they benefit? That is a different question.’’ Missteps occur when citizen science is incorporated into projects without aligning with citizens' interests or addressing their concerns.

The article also highlights our research group’s active role in developing innovative citizen science projects and its commitment to fostering collaboration between researchers and communities. Mohammad shared exciting plans to establish a Citizen Science Hub in the North of the Netherlands, with potential funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO). This hub would serve as a central point for expertise, resources and infrastructure, supporting researchers and citizens to work together more effectively. As part of our group’s mission, this hub would expand opportunities for citizen participation in science in the North of the Netherlands, while advancing research that directly addresses societal needs. 

Curious to learn more about the impact of citizen science and our work? Read the full UKrant article here.