Introducing the Principles for Citizen Science at UCL

Guest post by Sheetal Saujani, Citizen Science Coordinator in the Office for Open Science & Scholarship

Citizen science is a powerful and evolving way to conduct research, bringing together researchers and the public to advance knowledge and create real-world impact. At UCL, we’re committed to supporting ethical, inclusive, and high-quality citizen science.

To support this growing area of research, we are pleased to introduce the Principles for Citizen Science at UCL, a framework designed to guide best practices and meaningful collaboration across UCL and beyond.

Where did the Principles come from?

Our journey began with a simple question: What does citizen science look like across UCL?

We mapped existing projects across UCL and found many departments already involved in citizen science, even if they didn’t call it that. Conversations with project leads helped us to identify great practices, what support is needed and how to help more people get involved in citizen science. These conversations, in conjunction with UCL’s Citizen Science Working Group, helped shape UCL’s broad definition of citizen science (encompassing a diverse range of activities and practices) and informed the development of the Principles, a shared foundation for project leads, researchers, and citizen scientists working together.

Rooted in UCL’s inclusive approach to citizen science, the Principles are also informed by the ECSA (European Citizen Science Association) Ten Principles of Citizen Science, adapted to reflect UCL’s research culture and values.

What do the Principles cover?

The Principles for Citizen Science at UCL provide practical guidance primarily for anyone designing or participating in a citizen science project. They focus on key areas such as:

• Citizen scientists – Ensuring meaningful participation and recognition of contributions.
• Communication – Promoting open, clear and respectful dialogue between everyone.
• Data quality and ethics – Ensuring robust, responsible approaches to data collection, analysis, and sharing.
• Inclusivity and accessibility – Creating opportunities for everyone to get involved, regardless of background or experience.

Why do they matter?

Citizen science at UCL is more than a research method; it’s a way to connect knowledge with communities and expand the impact of our work.

The Principles aim to:

• Help project leads and citizen scientists work more effectively together.
• Support ethical and responsible research practices.
• Encourage wider participation and access.
• Increase the visibility and influence of citizen science across different disciplines.

By embedding these principles into projects, we can ensure that citizen-led research contributes to both academic excellence and societal benefit at UCL and beyond.

Use the Principles as a living framework

UCL’s Principles for Citizen Science aren’t just a checklist, they’re a flexible guide in the principles of co-creation, quality and inclusivity to use throughout your project journey. Use them to shape a project from idea to delivery and return to them often as your work evolves.

Explore and reach out to us!

We encourage all UCL researchers, project leads, staff, students, and citizen scientists to explore and adopt the Principles for Citizen Science at UCL in their work. Whether you’re starting a new project or refining an existing one, the Principles are here to support you.

If you’d like to learn more or discuss how these Principles can support your work, reach out to us as we would love to hear from you!