Achieving impact in a dynamic conservation landscape: Unlocking potential for research flexibility in citizen science

The dynamic nature of biodiversity conservation and management demands flexibility in biodiversity research. Yet there are many practical barriers to research flexibility, so it is important to find new ways to foster flexibility in conservation research. I report here on recent synthesis research proposing that citizen science offers strong yet untapped potential for research flexibility. I draw on diverse examples of citizen science initiatives documented in the literature to outline five underlying attributes that generate a strong innate capacity for flexibility in citizen science. These include: rigorous planning and evaluation frameworks, varied participant motivations, diverse knowledge to inform research priorities, boundary spanning institutions and professionals, and networks for capacity building at scales from local to global. I further explore eight common strategies for leveraging this capacity for flexibility, including: participant nudges, program expansion, diversification, flexible tools, repurposing outputs, facilitator partners, hubs, and new initiatives.

Based on this synthesis, I propose that citizen science has a strong underlying capacity for flexibility, and that further cultivating and leveraging this capacity can increase the impact of citizen science on conservation and generate a stronger response to emergent conservation issues. By shining a light on sources of and strategies for research flexibility in citizen science, I aim to establish a shared frame of reference for researchers and practitioners in both conservation and citizen science to explore and leverage this untapped potential. I further discuss trade-offs for citizen science programs that are considering opportunities to practice flexibility, as well as ways that citizen science practitioners might leverage flexibility to meet additional program objectives, including inclusivity and integration of participant perspectives. Finally, I close with an overview of considerations for conservation researchers and practitioners, as well as governance institutions and professional organizations, which may increase their ability to address dynamic and emerging research needs with citizen science.