Excellent science communication for society at large through informal activities- policy brief
From The Embassy of Good Science
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Excellent science communication for society at large through informal activities- policy brief
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What is this about?
The Excellent science communication for society at large through informal activities policy brief argues for the use of citizen-science (CS) data by local decision-makers for example, city/municipality authorities, regional environmental agencies, and other public bodies. It outlines how citizen-science data (collected by volunteers, communities, or non-traditional actors rather than formal institutions) can complement or even substitute traditional data sources for environmental monitoring, urban planning, and local governance. The brief identifies advantages such as timely data collection, cost-effectiveness, high spatial/temporal resolution, and community engagement. It also highlights limitations and challenges: data quality and validation, representativeness, sustainability of citizen participation, and integration with official decision-making. Finally, it provides recommendations on how to institutionalize CS data by establishing protocols for validation, quality assurance, and by integrating CS initiatives into local data infrastructures and decision-making processes.
Why is this important?
The brief is important because it offers a realistic and structured pathway for bringing citizen-generated data into formal policy and planning processes potentially filling data gaps and making environmental or urban governance more responsive, inclusive, and cost-efficient. In many local contexts, traditional data may be outdated, sparse, or too expensive to gather regularly. Citizen science can democratize data collection, engage communities, and provide high-resolution, real-time insights that decision-makers otherwise might lack. By formalizing procedures for quality, validation, and institutional uptake, the brief helps ensure that CS data can be taken seriously bridging grassroots efforts and formal governance.
For whom is this important?
Local government authoritiesEnvironmental and urban policymakersCommunity groups and NGOsResearchers and academicsUrban planners and sustainability professionals
