Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2024 Jun 24;379(1904):20230106. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0106. Epub 2024 May 6.
Emerging technologies are increasingly employed in environmental citizen science projects. This integration offers benefits and opportunities for scientists and participants alike. Citizen science can support large-scale, long-term monitoring of species occurrences, behaviour and interactions. At the same time, technologies can foster participant engagement, regardless of pre-existing taxonomic expertise or experience, and permit new types of data to be collected. Yet, technologies may also create challenges by potentially increasing financial costs, necessitating technological expertise or demanding training of participants. Technology could also reduce people's direct involvement and engagement with nature. In this perspective, we discuss how current technologies have spurred an increase in citizen science projects and how the implementation of emerging technologies in citizen science may enhance scientific impact and public engagement. We show how technology can act as (i) a facilitator of current citizen science and monitoring efforts, (ii) an enabler of new research opportunities, and (iii) a transformer of science, policy and public participation, but could also become (iv) an inhibitor of participation, equity and scientific rigour. Technology is developing fast and promises to provide many exciting opportunities for citizen science and insect monitoring, but while we seize these opportunities, we must remain vigilant against potential risks. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
新兴技术越来越多地应用于环境公民科学项目。这种整合为科学家和参与者都带来了好处和机会。公民科学可以支持大规模、长期的物种出现、行为和相互作用的监测。与此同时，技术可以促进参与者的参与，无论他们是否具有预先存在的分类学专业知识或经验，并允许收集新类型的数据。然而，技术也可能带来挑战，可能会增加财务成本，需要技术专业知识或要求参与者接受培训。技术还可能减少人们与自然的直接接触和参与。在这方面，我们讨论了当前的技术如何刺激了公民科学项目的增加，以及新兴技术在公民科学中的实施如何增强科学影响力和公众参与度。我们展示了技术如何可以作为（i）当前公民科学和监测工作的推动者，（ii）新的研究机会的推动者，以及（iii）科学、政策和公众参与的推动者，但也可能成为（iv）参与、公平和科学严谨性的抑制因素。技术发展迅速，有望为公民科学和昆虫监测提供许多令人兴奋的机会，但在我们抓住这些机会的同时，我们必须警惕潜在的风险。本文是主题为“迈向全球昆虫生物多样性监测工具包”的一部分。
