This document discusses public participation in scientific research (PPSR). It begins by defining PPSR and outlining different models of participation from contributory to co-created research. It then discusses how PPSR has evolved from amateur pursuits to addressing modern grand challenges like climate change through collecting widespread, long-term data. The document concludes by noting the growth in PPSR publications and calls for further developing the field through cross-disciplinary collaboration and formalizing support structures.

1. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Public participation in scientific research:
How we got here and where we go now
Abe Miller-Rushing, Science Coordinator
Schoodic Education and Research Center
and Acadia National Park

2. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Outline
• What is PPSR?
• How we got here
• Grand challenges – PPSR’s role
• Where we go now

3. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
PPSR models:
Define a question/issue
Gather information
Develop explanations
Design data collection methods
Collect samples
Analyze samples
Analyze data
Interpret data/conclude
Disseminate conclusions
Discuss results/inquire further

4. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
PPSR models: Contributory Collaborative Co-Created
Define a question/issue
Gather information
Develop explanations
Design data collection methods
Collect samples
Analyze samples
Analyze data
Interpret data/conclude
Disseminate conclusions
Discuss results/inquire further

5. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
PPSR models: Contributory Collaborative Co-Created
Define a question/issue
Gather information
Develop explanations
Design data collection methods
Collect samples
Analyze samples
Analyze data
Interpret data/conclude
Disseminate conclusions
Discuss results/inquire further

6. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
PPSR models: Contributory Collaborative Co-Created
Define a question/issue
Gather information
Develop explanations
Design data collection methods
Collect samples
Analyze samples
Analyze data
Interpret data/conclude
Disseminate conclusions
Discuss results/inquire further

7. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
PPSR models: Contributory Collaborative Co-Created
Define a question/issue
Gather information
Develop explanations
Design data collection methods
Collect samples
Analyze samples
Analyze data
Interpret data/conclude
Disseminate conclusions
Discuss results/inquire further

8. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Outline
• How we got here

9. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Science
began as an
amateur
pursuit

10. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Some of our
most
important
science has
relied on
public
participation

11. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Professionalization of science,
marginalization of public participation
Image credit: U.S. Geological Survey

12. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Collections of
scientific
materials and
observations
Image credit: Gray Herbarium

13. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Solving
local
problems
Disney and Steele. 2006. MDI Water Quality Coalition

14. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Important big data
Image credits: Acadia National Park Archives and Karl et al.
2008. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States

15. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Recent developments in PPSR
• Huge improvements in:
– Technology
– Communication
– Data storage
– Analysis
– Best practices
• Explicit participant-
focused outcomes
Image credit: Library of Congress

16. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Outline
• Grand challenges – PPSR’s role

17. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Climate change and global changes
• Changing basic
assumptions
• Need basic data that
have been ignored
or de-emphasized
Geographical pattern of surface warming for late
21st century relative to late 20th century.
Image credit: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2007. Synthesis Report

18. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
We need data:
• Over wide geographic areas
• Over long periods of time
• Describing diverse set of
biological, physical,
chemical, and social
phenomena
• Collected using
standardized methods

19. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Fine-scale
weather
observations

20. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Changes in
phenology
Primack et al. 2009. Biological Conservation

21. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Loss of
biodiversity
Primack and Miller-Rushing. 2012. BioScience

22. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Lots of other applications
• Image and sound
analysis
• Real-time data for near-
term predictions
• Collection and
transcription of historical
records
• Health and
environmental justice
Image credit: Gabriel Stargardter

23. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Outline
• Where we go now

24. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Huge growth in public participation in
scientific research
50
40
Peer-reviewed
publications
30
20
10
0
1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
Year

25. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Good time to bring the field together
• Facilitate cross-
disciplinary
communication,
collaboration, and
innovation
• Formalize and support
the field

26. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
Where do YOU want PPSR to go?
• What does the field
need?
• What do you need in
your role in PPSR?
• What should an
organization for PPSR
do?
Image credit: Tyler Nordgren

27. Schoodic Education and Research Center
Acadia National Park
abe_miller-rushing@nps.gov
sercinstitute.org
SERC Campus