The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) continues to grow and confirmed the Executive Board at the annual general assembly this weekend. The general assembly was part of the First International ECSA Conference in Berlin, which counted more than 300 participants. Prof. Dr. Johannes Vogel and Dr. Katrin Vohland, both from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, were re-elected to the Executive Board in an unanimous vote. ECSA’s goal is to increase the participation of the general public in Europe in research and thus to contribute to sustainable development and innovation in Europe.
„Citizens have always been drivers of science. It is time to appreciate their contributions more and to make them more visible” said Vogel who, as Director General of the natural history museum, is leading a research institution for which close cooperation with a broad range of stakeholders has always been key to success. “Citizen Science has become a global movement” added Vohland, who is the Head of the Science Programme Public Engagement with Science, “and the first international ECSA conference shows the importance the Citizen Science community attributes to reflecting its own role at the interface of science and society”.
With the confirmation of the successful development of ECSA by its members the Citizen Science movement also gains political significance. “ECSA statements, for example regarding the contribution of Citizen Science to European environmental goals, are backed and legitimated by the community of Citizen Science practitioners, and are expected to decrease barriers to the usage of knowledge from the field of Citizen Science” Vohland explains. In addition, ECSA contributes to building a common understanding of Citizen Science, e.g. through the 10 Principles of Citizen Science, a good practice document that has been elaborated in consultation with ECSA members. The principles are available in about 20 different languages.
The ECSA Executive Board is supported by an international Board of Directors comprised by Luigi Ceccaroni (Spain), Margaret Gold (UK), Zen Makuch (UK), Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn (Germany), und Andrea Sforzi ( Italy).
Information about ECSA: http://ecsa.citizen-science.net/
Information about the International Citizen Science Conference: http://www.ecsa2016.eu/
ECSA Documents (Principles; Policy Paper): http://ecsa.citizen-science.net/node/94