Citizen Science, Innovative Technology: What’s Next?
Oral Presentation
Prepared by S. Okun
PatientsLikeMe, 160 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, United States
Contact Information: sokun@patientslikeme.com; 508-280-3485
ABSTRACT
There are budding scientists around us no matter where we might be every day. Technology is allowing us to do things once unimaginable. For the older generation, the information available at their fingertips is overwhelming. For the younger generation, science is part of their everyday lives – not just an area of interest in which you might chose to have a career. The larger population of individuals considered ‘in the middle’ ask more questions, dig deeper than most once did, and expect more information about their personal environment and health.
Citizen science and crowdsourcing are approaches that educate, engage, and empower the public to apply their curiosity and talents to a wide range of real-world problems with programs popping-up all over the country to raise greater awareness. We, as scientists, should ensure the general public is aware of tools and programs and encourage them to take advantage of using them. The vast amounts of data being generated will be in our hands to appropriately find further use to advance science, and protect the environment and public health.
The first two presentations will provide a high-level, overarching prospective on citizen science, technology, and crowdsourcing communities. Afterward, there will be a three person panel of experts working on crowdsourcing, citizen communities, and health initiatives that will be presented as examples with a short time for questions and discussion to follow.
Overarching (High Level) Citizen Science, Technology, and Crowdsourcing Communities
8:15 Lea Shanley, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
9:00 Waleed Abdalati, University of Colorado
Panel on Crowdsourcing/Citizen Communities and Health
10:15 Kathleen Weathers, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
10:45 Meredith Barrett, Propeller Health
11:15 Sally Okun, Patients Like Me
11:45 General Discussion/ Questions
Oral Presentation
Prepared by S. Okun
PatientsLikeMe, 160 Second Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, United States
Contact Information: sokun@patientslikeme.com; 508-280-3485
ABSTRACT
There are budding scientists around us no matter where we might be every day. Technology is allowing us to do things once unimaginable. For the older generation, the information available at their fingertips is overwhelming. For the younger generation, science is part of their everyday lives – not just an area of interest in which you might chose to have a career. The larger population of individuals considered ‘in the middle’ ask more questions, dig deeper than most once did, and expect more information about their personal environment and health.
Citizen science and crowdsourcing are approaches that educate, engage, and empower the public to apply their curiosity and talents to a wide range of real-world problems with programs popping-up all over the country to raise greater awareness. We, as scientists, should ensure the general public is aware of tools and programs and encourage them to take advantage of using them. The vast amounts of data being generated will be in our hands to appropriately find further use to advance science, and protect the environment and public health.
The first two presentations will provide a high-level, overarching prospective on citizen science, technology, and crowdsourcing communities. Afterward, there will be a three person panel of experts working on crowdsourcing, citizen communities, and health initiatives that will be presented as examples with a short time for questions and discussion to follow.
Overarching (High Level) Citizen Science, Technology, and Crowdsourcing Communities
8:15 Lea Shanley, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
9:00 Waleed Abdalati, University of Colorado
Panel on Crowdsourcing/Citizen Communities and Health
10:15 Kathleen Weathers, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
10:45 Meredith Barrett, Propeller Health
11:15 Sally Okun, Patients Like Me
11:45 General Discussion/ Questions
