Prof. Tamar Dayan, Chair of the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, says in an interview with the Hidan website: "Citizen science is a way to involve the general public in environmental research and the advancement of scientific knowledge. It is an approach that connects researchers with citizens, from kindergarten children to scientists."
The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History has launched the Israeli Center for Citizen Science, an initiative designed to make research processes accessible to the general public, and to assist in the conservation and management of biological and environmental diversity in Israel. The center, which is being launched in collaboration with the JNF and the Society for the Protection of Nature, will form the basis of an advanced national network for knowledge sharing and data collection, as part of a citizen science conference to be held on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
The Israeli Center for Citizen Science was established with the goal of uniting the scientific community with the general public and making ecological research more accessible and transparent. In recent years, there has been a global development in the field of citizen science, with public contribution to research and documentation of observations constituting a central component in understanding environmental processes and formulating strategies for nature management and conservation.
To this end, a national database will be established, meeting international standards, which will serve as a basis for research, decision-making, and land management by professional bodies, policymakers, and researchers. This activity will be based, among other things, on observation reports using advanced applications such as iNaturalist, eBird, and BioCollect, which enable continuous, high-quality documentation of biodiversity.
Prof. Tamar Dayan: "Citizen Science – a Tool for Public Participation in Understanding the Environment""
In an interview with the Haydan website, Prof. Tamar Dayan, Chair of the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, addressed the importance of the new center and the contribution of citizen science to public participation in research processes:
"Citizen science is a way to involve the general public in environmental research and the advancement of scientific knowledge. It is an approach that connects researchers with citizens, from kindergarteners to scientists, with the goal of making the world of science accessible to everyone. The new center will provide a platform for large-scale data collection, which will enable answers to many scientific questions and active public participation. This is a collaborative, not one-way process – the public not only provides information, but also receives insights and a deeper understanding of the ecosystem."
Prof. Dayan noted that the field is developing significantly worldwide and has already become a major research tool in Europe and the US. According to her, in the US, citizen science has even been incorporated into official policy by the federal Department of Science, with legislation relating to the use of citizen data in public areas.
"This is about changing the perception of the role of science in society and the place of the public in the data-based decision-making process. The goal is to create mutual cooperation that will benefit both researchers and citizens."
The Director General of the Natural History Museum, Alon Sephan, explained, "Within the framework of the center, we will provide professional and technological support to every citizen science project, so that it will not be necessary to 'reinvent the wheel' each time. We will work to formulate uniform protocols, recruit participants, and manage and preserve data consistently, while establishing a single central data system that meets international standards."
Safan emphasized the need for collaboration between the various bodies – from leading researchers to field workers and nature enthusiasts – to maximize the potential of data collected from the field. He said the center will serve as a platform that will contribute to professional discourse and the formulation of management strategies that will ensure the long-term conservation of natural resources.
Dr. Doron Merkel, KKL-JNF's Chief Scientist: "We see citizen science as an important tool for strengthening the connection between the public and natural areas. Collecting comprehensive, high-quality data from the field allows us not only to assess the current state of the environment, but also to formulate an adapted and measurable management policy that will assist in the conservation of natural resources."
Dan Alon, CEO of the Society for the Protection of Nature: "Collaboration with professional and academic bodies allows us to implement structured processes for nature conservation. The Israeli Center for Citizen Science will be a central component in creating an environmental management system that will be based on reliable data and will enable continuous monitoring of changes in the environment."
One response
blessed!
As an educator and teacher myself, I welcome the understanding that science must be part of the lives of ordinary citizens and must leave the laboratories and reach the general public. Only in this way can we make the scientific method – based on facts – accessible and combat ignorance and misinformation. Well done, I am eagerly awaiting to take part in this venture with my family.