Accepted Poster
Poster Short Abstract
Citizen science (CS) can democratise access to scientific research, by allowing anyone to participate in knowledge production. Through Asteroid Search Campaigns based on high-quality telescope data, StAnD and IASC demonstrate of how CS reduces inequalities in access to scientific participation.
Poster Abstract
Scientific knowledge is typically produced within centres of power and scientific attention, such as universities and metropolitan hubs, making it less accessible for communities outside those centres to contribute to its advancement. However, citizen science has the potential to democratise access to scientific research, by allowing anyone - independently of their location or background - to participate in knowledge production.
The StAnD (StudenTs As plaNetary Defenders) project and the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) provide good examples of how citizen science can reduce inequalities in access to scientific participation, by giving students in different regions the same opportunities to engage in scientific discovery based on high-quality data.
StAnD introduces students to planetary defence, uncovering asteroids, meteors, and other cosmic phenomena that may threaten Earth. The project includes 12 meteor cameras installed across 4 countries and over 40 schools contributing to scientific discoveries through Asteroid Search Campaigns, organised with IASC. These initiatives allow students to access and analyse observation images and data from robotic telescopes from Haleakala Observatory and Las Cumbres Global Observatory. Results obtained contribute to discovery and monitoring of asteroids and near-Earth objects, allowing students to become involved in the planet’s defence.
The remote use of robotic telescopes facilitates the participation of students across the globe, giving schools in peripheral regions the ability to work with the same high-quality data as those in metropolitan centres. Thus, these initiatives reduce access barriers and foster inclusivity, while developing students’ digital and STEM skills and inspiring new generations to pursue scientific careers.
Poster Session