NNMK19000U Citizen Science

Volume 2020/2021
Content

This course offers an introduction to citizen science: the involvement of the public in the scientific process. Members of the general public undertake various takes often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions. The development and application of citizen science is increasing around the world as a method to collect large amounts of data and make research relevant for the public by co-creation. Through lectures and discussion seminars, you will be presented for various projects and applications of citizen science. You will get experience with data handling in exercises and during the course there will be field work opportunities as well as workshops focussing on motivation, communication, and evaluation processes. By the end of course you will design your own project determined to answer a specific research question using citizen science.

Learning Outcome

Competencies

During the course you will obtain the following competencies:

Evaluate citizen science literature

Identify research questions relevant for citizen science and reflect on solutions

Target specific groups of volunteers based on motivation, prerequisites and preferences

Design a citizen science project including all aspects from idea/question and communication to methods development and data analyses

Application of co-creation methods

 

Skills

During the course you will obtain the following skills:

Communication of scientific methods and research results to various public target groups

Design citizen science methods and apply a selection of these methods

Handle and analyse citizen science data

 

Knowledge

During the course you will obtain the following knowledge:

Basic aspects of citizen science such as communication of scientific methods and research results to the public and specific target groups

Collaboration and co-creation with public target groups

Design scientific methods to meet the interests and needs of the public

 

 

See Absalon for a list of course literature and "Citizen Science – Innovation in open science, Society and policy", by Hecker et al. UCLPress

A mixture of lectures, exercises, workshops, seminars, fieldwork and excursions. The course will be completed with each student having one week (40 hours) to write a 5-page written assignment (essay).
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 15
  • Preparation
  • 25
  • Theory exercises
  • 20
  • Practical exercises
  • 8
  • Field Work
  • 7
  • Excursions
  • 7
  • Seminar
  • 7
  • Exam Preparation
  • 8
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 137
Oral
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Continuous assessment
Written assignment (40 hours). The course will be completed with each student having one week (40 hours) to write a 5-page written assignment (essay). The titles for the assignments will be given to the students.
Exam registration requirements

Active participation in the field part of the course.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

If the student has not fulfilled the exam registration requirements the student must take the course again next year.

If the written assignment is unacceptable or not submitted in time, the student is given a new subject with one week (40 hours) to write a new essay.

Criteria for exam assesment

Evaluation based on participation and written assignment (one week).