Public engagement in science
An important aspect of open science is bringing the scientific process closer to society and its citizens. Research makes use of a range of approaches and formats for public involvement, dialogue, and collaboration. These are commonly referred to as citizen science, user participation, scientific “crowdsourcing,” public dialogue, and co-creation.
Research as part of society
Public participation in the research process means involving people outside academia in different stages of research. This can include data collection, analysis, dissemination, or the formulation of research questions.
Such participation can be organised in many ways, for example through citizen science, community-driven projects, or collaboration with interest groups and local communities. The role of participants varies depending on the research field and project design, and may involve both practical and analytical activities. In some cases, collaboration with participants can help shape research questions that reflect societal needs and lived experiences.
When promoting or supporting public participation in research, it is important to define the objectives, such as knowledge exchange, broader access to data, or greater relevance of research questions. It is also important to identify the types of projects or disciplines where such participation is both feasible and methodologically appropriate. The need for skills development, scheduling, and coordination may influence implementation and should be considered in governance and resource allocation.
Effective participation often requires support structures for communication, methodological adaptation, and ethical management. There may also be a need for guidelines on data protection, division of responsibilities, and feedback to participants. Several research funders and organisations now provide resources to facilitate the planning and implementation of such elements in research projects.