Open Science

The citizen's role and contribution to research

Elta Smith, Sarah Parks, Salil Gunashekar, Catherine A. Lichten, Anna Knack, Catriona Manville

Expert InsightsPublished Jul 17, 2017

Scientific research is expanding into new modes of research characterised by openness. Due to advances in digital technology, the possibilities for research to become more inclusive of amateur scientists is augmented, with new opportunities for amateurs to contribute to the various stages of the research process — a phenomenon known as 'citizen science.' Citizen science can potentially yield great societal impact, with emergent findings pointing to increased civic engagement and greater appreciation for science. This publication explores the definitions, opportunities and challenges for citizen science.

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RAND Style Manual
Smith, Elta, Sarah Parks, Salil Gunashekar, Catherine A. Lichten, Anna Knack, and Catriona Manville, Open Science: The citizen's role and contribution to research, RAND Corporation, PE-246-CI, July 2017. As of September 11, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE246.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Smith, Elta, Sarah Parks, Salil Gunashekar, Catherine A. Lichten, Anna Knack, and Catriona Manville, Open Science: The citizen's role and contribution to research. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE246.html.
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