2025/11/01 by Caitlin P. Mandeville · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Arts and Humanities · Medicine · #Species Distribution and Climate Change #Conservation Techniques and Studies #Zoonotic diseases and public health
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/con4.70009
openalex publication_date 2025/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/12/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
ABSTRACT The dynamic nature of research prioritization calls for flexibility in conservation research, yet there are many barriers to research flexibility. This article proposes that citizen science offers untapped capacity for flexibility in conservation research. Drawing on diverse examples from the literature, it explores eight common modes of research flexibility in citizen science and five underlying attributes of citizen science that generate a strong capacity for flexibility. Because these attributes are not typically viewed through a lens of flexibility; however, the capacity they confer may often be unrecognized and underdeveloped. By shining light on some common modes and sources of research flexibility in citizen science, this article establishes a shared frame of reference for researchers and practitioners in conservation and citizen science to explore specific ways that citizen science may address emerging research needs. The article closes with an overview of key considerations for actors at three levels—conservation researchers and practitioners, citizen science practitioners, and relevant professional communities—to further cultivate flexibility in conservation citizen science and to assess opportunities to leverage it for greater impact on conservation science and practice.