What is citizen science and why should policymakers care?

When we think of scientific research, we often picture professional scientists working in labs, surrounded by complex equipment and data. But science is not the exclusive domain of highly trained experts. In fact, the origins of scientific discovery are deeply rooted in the curiosity and observations of ordinary people - what we now call citizen science.

Scientific research conducted by citizens isn’t a new phenomenon. As early as 801 AD, people in Kyoto were tracking the blooming of cherry blossoms—a practice that continues today to monitor environmental changes. In Europe, from the 16th to 19th centuries, scientific progress relied heavily on educated amateurs. These “citizen scientists” pursued knowledge as a passion, not a profession.

However, in the 19th century, the professionalisation of science pushed the public out, creating a divide between experts and everyday people. Fast forward to the 1970s, when a resurgence of citizen engagement in research began, driven by social movements advocating for more inclusive and responsible research. The term "citizen science" was popularised in the 1990s, thanks to figures like Alan Irwin and Rick Bonney.

Today, citizen science is growing rapidly across all disciplines, from environmental monitoring to public health. It is also increasingly recognised as a core element of open science.  Nevertheless, it still represents only a very small fraction of total scientific research. Its full potential has yet to be realised.

Citizen science is making an important contribution to knowledge production at local, national and international scales. Whether monitoring air quality, mapping biodiversity, or contributing to medical research, citizens are helping to collect and analyse data, shape research questions, and generate real-world impact.

• Expanding scientific discovery: Citizen scientists gather and process data at a scale that professionals alone cannot achieve. Citizens track biodiversity, air quality, and water pollution, contributing to critical datasets that inform environmental policies. Just like Kyoto’s cherry blossoms were tracked, today’s citizen scientists are helping monitor the health of our planet.
• Meeting societal needs: Public involvement ensures research aligns with cmmunity priorities. For example, during COVID-19 research, citizens contributed data that helped track the virus’s spread and shape policies, directly influencing public health responses. They also identified “long Covid”.
• Boosting democratisation, legitimacy, and uptake of scientific evidence in policies: Citizen participation opens and democratises research processes. When this is done with transparency and inclusivity, it can increase the legitimacy of, and trust in, science, policy and scientific authorities.

Bringing citizen science into the mainstream and realising its full potential requires more than enthusiasm—it demands systemic support. Policymakers, including those in ministries and funding agencies, need to formally recognise the value of citizen science and integrate it into science, technology, and innovation (STI) strategies.

High-level commitment is crucial. An enabling environment must be created, with proper investment in data infrastructure, capacity-building, and long-term funding.

Crucially, citizen science thrives on co-operation. Successful initiatives combine both top-down support (such as national policies) and bottom-up energy from communities and civil society. Citizen science networks and associations can play a key role as intermediaries bringing different actors together. International collaboration is also important. Tackling global issues—from climate change to pandemics—can be made more effective by sharing data, tools, and knowledge across borders.

At the same time, citizen science is not without its challenges. Concerns around data quality, research bias, and ethical issues must be taken seriously. This means putting in place appropriate review systems, robust data standards, and inclusive research ethics frameworks.

To fully realise the benefits of citizen science, a cultural shift within the research community is also needed. Academic institutions must recognise citizen science as a legitimate and valuable research approach. This includes creating career pathways and reward systems for researchers who work with the public.

And when it comes to evaluating impact, traditional metrics like citations don’t always capture the true value of citizen science. We need better tools to assess outcomes—particularly those that benefit communities and participants directly, even if the impacts take years to fully emerge.

A new OECD report lays out ten key recommendations, supported by a comprehensive policy framework and a set of practical policy options, to help governments and research funders embed citizen science into research policy.

The uptake and application of this citizen science framework by policymakers should ultimately help generate the scientific knowledge and solutions that are required to achieve critical objectives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and transition to more resilient societies.