Explore UCD

UCD Home >

GEOG41170

Academic Year 2026/2027

Citizen Science (GEOG41170)

Subject:
Geography
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Geography
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Jeremy Auerbach
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Citizen science is an important vehicle for democratising science and promoting the goal of universal and equitable access to scientific data and information. Data generated by citizen science groups have become an increasingly important source for researchers. Citizen science data are used extensively across all fields, for example, crowdsourced data are being used by UN operational agencies for humanitarian activities and citizen scientists are providing data relevant to monitoring the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Citizen science is also increasingly being incorporated into fellowships and research funding in Ireland (see recent calls by Research Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency) and the EU.

This module will introduce you to the theory and practice of citizen science. You'll explore the history, theoretical foundations, and practical aspects of designing and running citizen science projects. By the end of the module, you'll have a good understanding of citizen science and be familiar with the academic literature in this area.

The module is aimed at:
● those involved in citizen science and public engagement with science
● students, staff, and faculty who are considering developing a citizen science project
● citizens interested in being involved with science

There are no pre-requisites for this module. You don't need any prior knowledge of what citizen science is, or participatory methods.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

● Demonstrate knowledge of the field of citizen science and scientific crowdsourcing, including the activities that are include in it and its history
● Demonstrate familiarity and knowledge of relevant social science theories that explain the role of citizen science within scientific knowledge production
● Utilize the technologies used in citizen science and scientific crowdsourcing, and understand how they shape and impact the projects and the applications of their outputs
● Understand the practice of citizen science through participation in several activities, and be able to critique and evaluate such practices
● Demonstrate the appropriate evaluation techniques for citizen science and scientific crowdsourcing, including the experience and learning of participants

Indicative Module Content:

Basics of citizen science: Citizen Science Theory and transdisciplinary research
- CS contribution to research, society, and policy
- Building and empowering communities
- Science accessibility
- Social theory approaches to thinking about citizen science and its place in the world
- Tensions and synergies

Research on CS
- Citizen science and education

How to make projects participant-centred 1: Participation and participants in CS
- Engaging and communicating with citizens
- Participant management

How to make projects participant-centred 2: The technical aspects of citizen science projects
- Participatory methods and technology
- User-centred design and human-computer interaction
- Data considerations, management and ensuring quality

Communication, evaluation and policy
- Impact assessment

Ethics and legal issues
- Institutional ethics applications

Grant writing and opportunities
- Review of the CS components in new proposals

Best practices
- How to kickstart citizen science projects
- How to sustain citizen science projects

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Proficient

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Proficient

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Proficient

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Proficient

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Proficient

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Proficient

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Proficient

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Proficient

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Not addressed

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Proficient

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

126
Lectures

9
Small Group

9
Field Trip/External Visits

6
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will require high levels of self-motivation, independent organisation, active/task-based learning; critical writing; enquiry based and reflective learning.

AI will not be used in the module and students are expected to produce their own work without AI.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Group Work Assignment: Leading and designing a CS project Week 8 Graded No
50
 No
Group Work Assignment: Translating a CS project into action/policy Week 14 Graded No
50
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

- Group feedback on common issues arising from the written assignments will be provided on brightspace. - Timely individualised feedback will be provided on written assignments. - Students are welcome to meet with the module coordinator during office hours (virutally) if more detailed feedback / further clarification is required. Please note: The UCD standard for feedback is within 20 working days, i.e. 5 weeks. We will endeavour to return assignments that are completed on time within 2-3 weeks, and where possible before the next assignment is due. Assignments handed in late will be subject to University timescales. This may mean that if you hand in your assignment late, another assignment will need to be completed, before the original one is marked. This will also be the case with the final project report, i.e. if you complete the assignments late, you may not have feedback in time to use it for your final project report.

Name Role
Dr Chiara Cocco Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Emma Dorris Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Aura Istrate Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Anna Molter Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 6, 9 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.