The Phenomenon of Citizen Science in Contemporary Science Studies

Abstract

The article is devoted to discussing the approaches that have developed in contemporary science studies to examining the phenomenon of citizen (non-professional) science, where the focus is on the active participation of interested members of the public either in the very process of producing scientific knowledge or in setting the directions of scientific inquiry. In short, we are interested in the established forms of interaction between civic activists and staff of scientific institutions across a wide range of scientific practices, and how this influences professional science. It is shown that the theoretical basis for analyzing the phenomenon of citizen science is the concept of “Mode 2 science”, which emphasizes the democratic, non-class-based, multicultural character of the scientific research process; special attention is paid to the positive impact that non-academic ways of producing knowledge have on the knowledge production process, of which the concept of “citizen” science is a striking example. At the same time, drawing on a number of studies, it is shown that the situation is not so unequivocal, and therefore one should refrain from making sweeping claims and be more cautious, for example, about the assertion that citizen science helps create a science that is much more open to public participation, thereby reducing the distance between science and society. In reality, the role of citizen participants is often reduced to collecting primary data, while their influence on defining the overall design of projects, choosing data collection methods, and setting ultimate goals is often minimal. This situation requires STS researchers to critically assess how the concept of public participation in science is developing and how it might evolve in the future.