The Role of Citizen Science in Promoting Health Equity

Abstract

While there are many definitions of citizen science, the term usually refers to the participation of the general public in the scientific process in collaboration with professional scientists. Citizen scientists have been engaged to promote health equity, especially in the areas of environmental contaminant exposures, physical activity, and healthy eating. Citizen scientists commonly come from communities experiencing health inequities and have collected data using a range of strategies and technologies, such as air sensors, water quality kits, and mobile applications. On the basis of our review, and to advance the field of citizen science to address health equity, we recommend (a) expanding the focus on topics important for health equity, (b) increasing the diversity of people serving as citizen scientists, (c) increasing the integration of citizen scientists in additional research phases, (d) continuing to leverage emerging technologies that enable citizen scientists to collect data relevant for health equity, and (e) strengthening the rigor of methods to evaluate impacts on health equity.

Keywords: citizen science; community; environmental health; health equity; healthy eating; participatory research; physical activity.

Figure 1

Percent of studies included in this review that involved citizen scientists in multiple aspects of research. Phases include defining the problem, defining the research question, designing the study, collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting findings, and disseminating/advocating for change.

Figure 2

Percent of studies included in this review that involved citizen scientists in each phase of the research process.