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Short Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is dynamic, so biodiversity research requires flexibility to address emergent needs. I explore the untapped potential that citizen science offers for flexibility, presenting key sources of flexibility in citizen science and common strategies for leveraging this flexibility.

Abstract

The dynamic nature of biodiversity conservation and management demands flexibility in biodiversity research. Yet in practice there are many barriers to research flexibility, so it is important to find new ways to foster flexibility in conservation research. I report here on recent work proposing that citizen science offers untapped potential for research flexibility. I drew on diverse examples of citizen science programs to outline five underlying attributes that generate a strong innate capacity for flexibility in citizen science and eight common modes by which the capacity for flexibility is often manifested. By shining a light on some these sources and modes of research flexibility in citizen science, I hope to establish a shared frame of reference for researchers and practitioners in both conservation and citizen science to explore untapped potential for addressing emergent research needs. I will also discuss trade-offs for citizen science programs that are considering opportunities to practice flexibility, as well as ways that these programs might leverage the capacity for flexibility to meet additional program objectives. Finally, I will close with an overview of some key considerations for conservation researchers and professional associations looking to collaborate with citizen science programs to address emerging research needs.