A new collaboration at NC State seeks to prepare graduate students to address global issues through collaboration with the public on scientific research.
The Citizen Science Campus initiative, led by Caren Cooper and Zakiya Leggett of the College of Natural Resources, has partnered with the Global One Health Academy to offer a graduate certificate in participatory sciences.
Participatory sciences is an umbrella term for research methods that engage the public in the scientific process, from formulating research questions to interpreting results. It includes citizen science, community science, crowdsourcing, volunteer monitoring and more.
Any NC State graduate student or professional student with an interest in participatory sciences can apply to the certificate program, regardless of their field of study. The certificate is also open to students enrolled at other institutions.
“The goal of the certificate is to prepare students to understand the what, when, why, and how of participatory approaches,” said Cooper, a professor of forestry and environmental resources, who coordinates the certificate program.
As part of the 12-credit certificate, students must complete two courses: PSC/GOH 550: Fundamentals of Citizen Science and Other Participatory Research Methods and PSC/GOH 551: Citizen Science Engagement Practicum.
This curriculum not only covers the fundamentals of participatory sciences but also provides the opportunity for students to become scholars of participatory science through a semester-long qualitative research project and to become practitioners and develop the skills of running a participatory project, such as the annual Pack Science Challenge.
“Students in the certificate program gain hands-on experience by helping engage the campus community and by handling, visualizing and reporting back the data to participants,” Cooper said.
In addition to completing the core courses, students must also enroll in elective courses that not only provide additional exposure to participatory research but also enrich their specific interests in participatory research.
The current list of pre-approved electives includes a broad selection of courses relevant to different fields of study and research interests, ranging from COM 579: Climate Change Communication to ECE 518: Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems.
Ultimately, students who complete the certificate will be prepared to engage the public in scientific inquiry and collaboration, understand data ethics, management and visualization, and be competent in the equity of science access.
The program’s inaugural cohort includes 10 NC State students representing various departments, including Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Biological Sciences, Public and International Affairs, and others.
Seana Finn, who is pursuing a master’s and doctoral degree in parks, recreation and tourism management, recently enrolled in the certificate program to further hone her knowledge and skills in participatory sciences.
While an undergraduate at Shaw University, Finn interned with Crowd the Tap, a citizen science initiative led by NC State to create a national inventory of tap water pipes to identify homes with lead pipes. Following graduation, Finn worked for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, where she fostered community partnerships and volunteer projects to protect local habitats.
Now a member of Cooper’s Public Science Lab, Finn is studying public perceptions of water resources, in part by collaborating with the Carolina Wetlands Association. The nonprofit operates a volunteer wetland monitoring program that relies on community members to collect water samples and other bioindicators of water levels and biodiversity in their local wetlands.
“I feel that participatory science techniques allow me to approach conservation research with a more holistic lens by giving a voice to local communities,” Finn said. “I am also interested in learning how to design engaging participatory science projects that can help drive structural change by influencing the creation of policies and laws centered around conservation.”
Finn added that the certificate program will ultimately help advance her post-graduation goals of working with historically marginalized groups, such as environmental justice communities, that lack access to clean and safe water resources.
“Treating communities as collaborators rather than using them as a means to extract data is crucial. With the participatory sciences certificate, I can conduct research that creates long-term solutions while empowering communities,” Finn said.
Cooper credits Rob Dunn, senior vice president for university interdisciplinary programs, for proposing the certificate, and Sid Thakur and Meredith Beaulieu of the Global One Health Academy for their partnership in launching it.
“We all saw the value of an interdisciplinary certificate that can help create a new generation of scientists who can build trusting relationships with different public groups to produce broader benefits beyond the ivory tower, increasing the value of science to all,” Cooper said.
She added, “I hope we can support more graduate research and more collaborations across campus, across North Carolina, and across the world.”
The Global One Health Academy and Citizen Science Campus initiative are currently offering up to five microgrants, totaling up to $1,000 each, for participatory research projects occurring from January through June 2025.
Cooper and her collaborators are also seeking proposals from faculty, staff and students for the Citizen Science Incubator, a platform for identifying a focal project of the year for the Pack Science Challenge.
The selected project will be featured in the Pack Science Challenge during the spring. It will also be incorporated into the Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions course for all incoming first-year and transfer students.
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