Introducing the Citizen Science Lab at Universiteit Leiden
Leiden’s Citizen Science Lab is a hub dedicated to supporting researchers across the university who wish to collaborate with other researchers, community groups, schools, and other partners. The Lab also runs its own projects and connects with organisations both inside and outside academia – from local neighbourhood initiatives to international research networks.
The Lab itself has a unique origin story. It began in the University's astronomy department, where researchers were employing citizen science methods early on. From there, it gradually grew into a university-wide hub to support citizen science across all faculties – from the natural sciences to the humanities and social sciences. This evolution shows how a small initiative in one discipline can evolve into something that changes how a whole institution works with the public.
To make the work of the Citizen Science Lab more tangible, Margaret introduces us to two different citizen science projects supported by the Lab. The first equips bird nests with sensors to collect data on temperature and other environmental factors to help scientists better understand climate-related changes, while giving volunteers like primary school classes a direct role in gathering valuable information. The second project is rooted in a local neighbourhood in Leiden – residents work together with researchers to investigate questions that matter to them, turning their experience and local knowledge into shared findings which can potentially lead to concrete changes in the city.
Both projects connect to themes we’ve discussed in earlier episodes of our podcast – from bird ringing as a historical form of citizen science to ‘mini-publics’ and how citizens can help strengthen democracy. Citizen science can cover a wide range of topics and approaches. Beyond only data collection, Margaret illustrates how citizen science is also about people coming together to do something meaningful, sharing questions, ideas, and concerns. Local stories can feed into larger studies, placing the experiences of a neighbourhood or a classroom on a European or even global stage.
" The citizen science activity gives a really tangible thing to be doing together. Sometimes it is not about the data but about the engagement: raising awareness about an issue and the kinds of conversations that citizen science data then opens up. Because data is collectively gathered, it becomes something that you have shared ownership of and that enables a particular kind of conversation about 'what could we do here?' and 'what would we like to see here?'. "
Margaret Gold on citizen science activities creating shared stories.
Exploring the science of Citizen Science
Looking at the ‘science of citizen science’ as a practice and method within the broader open science movement helps us understand not only the common challenges of these projects, but also the many opportunities that arise when research is opened up to the public. As Margaret explains – and as we’ve heard in earlier episodes – recent years have seen a rise in training programmes on citizen science for doctoral researchers and undergraduate students at our universities, as well as projects in early education including primary and high schools.
Tune in to this episode to explore how citizen science connects research with everyday life. Learn more about how people of all ages can contribute to scientific projects, how local knowledge can shape wider debates, and why opening up research to the public matters for society.
Margaret Gold, Head of Universiteit Leiden's Citizen Science Lab
