In 2015, the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) published the Ten Principles of Citizen Science, developed collaboratively by the Working Group on 'Sharing Best Practice and Building Capacity' led by the Natural History Museum London, with input from numerous ECSA members. These principles establish core values and standards for citizen science projects, providing a framework against which to assess both new and existing initiatives with the aim of fostering excellence in all aspects of citizen science. Used internationally and currently available in 26 languages, the Ten Principles have become essential foundational guidance for the global citizen science community.
The principles address key dimensions of quality citizen science: genuine citizen involvement in scientific endeavor that generates new knowledge; authentic science outcomes answering real research questions or informing policy decisions; public availability of data and metadata with open access publication of results (unless security or privacy concerns prohibit); acknowledgment of citizen scientists in publications; evaluation of programs for scientific output, data quality, participant experience, and societal impact; and careful consideration of legal, ethical, copyright, and intellectual property issues. These principles provide both a vision of quality practice and a practical checklist for project leaders seeking to align their work with community standards.
The Ten Principles have become instrumental in advancing the democratization of science while maintaining scientific rigor. They serve as a basis for discussion and debate within the citizen science community, enabling practitioners to reflect on their practices and aspire toward continuous improvement.