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Short Abstract

Based on a ten years-long citizen science project in Italy, this study explores environmental attitudes, motivation, and identity of the engaged volunteers, revealing the social and behavioural transformations behind sustained citizen engagement

Abstract

How may participation in biodiversity conservation citizen science projects influence volunteers’ attitudes, motivation, and sense of agency? This contribution presents insights from the long-term Italian CS initiative “InNat”, focused on monitoring protected insect species and habitats, which engaged more than 1,600 volunteers between 2014 and 2024 across national territory.

A dedicated survey conducted in 2022 explored the social drivers of participation and factors supporting sustained engagement. The analysis combined socio-demographic variables, environmental attitudes, and interest in scientific topics to model levels of commitment. Volunteers were grouped into two categories—Consistent and Non-Consistent participants—to identify enablers of long-term involvement, and results indicate that, although participants share similar demographic profiles, motivations and self-perceptions diverge. In fact, consistent volunteers exhibit stronger pro-environmental values, a deeper sense of contributing to science, and an active interest in promoting citizen science within their communities.

These findings demonstrate that successful citizen science initiatives can build upon environmental awareness, agency, and identity among participants. Results show that integrating motivational and attitudinal analysis can provide leverage for citizen science projects to become transformative social connections between people, scientific knowledge, and nature.