Environmental Protection Belongs to the Public: A Vision for Citizen Science at EPA
By Stan Meiburg, Acting Deputy Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency
At EPA, we can’t protect the environment alone. Environmental protection belongs to all of us, and participating in environmental science is one way that members of the public can have an impact. Citizen science broadens environmental protection by enabling people to work together with government and other institutions toward shared goals.
In citizen science, members of the public participate in scientific and technical work in a variety of ways, including formulating research questions, conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and solving problems. In particular, community citizen science addresses questions defined by communities and allows for community engagement throughout the entire scientific process, empowering people to ask their own questions, collect their own data, and advocate for themselves.
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with experts who participate in an EPA advisory council, the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). EPA’s advisory councils are an important way for EPA to gather opinions and recommendations from experts outside the Agency. NACEPT has been working for a year to understand citizen science, gather the best thinking on the topic, and provide EPA with advice and recommendations for how to best integrate citizen science into the work of EPA.
Their timely report – Environmental Protection Belongs to the Public: A Vision for Citizen Science at EPA – outlines the transformational potential of citizen science and provides EPA with 13 recommendations to fully integrate citizen science into the work of the Agency. Citizen science can mean many things, and this excellent report provides a useful conceptual framework for considering the spectrum of uses of citizen science data, highlights the importance of a place-based approach to environmental protection, and emphasizes the need to be proactive about engaging the public in environmental protection. This report will resonate with those around the country who see the opportunities in this next wave of environmental protection. It also tells us that we at EPA have work to do in promoting high quality science and expanding our access to information that promotes constructive solutions to environmental problems.
The report is available here: https://www.epa.gov/faca/nacept-2016-report-environmental-protection-belongs-public-vision-citizen-science-epa
EPA has a number of innovative projects working to engage citizens in environmental science and decision-making and involve the public in all aspects of EPA work. You can learn more about EPA’s work in citizen science at www.epa.gov/citizenscience. EPA will take this new report very seriously and use its insights to help us make even more progress in the years to come.
Robert Guzauskas
Dec 20, 2016 @ 11:10:53
Why did U wait 8 years to say this?
Bob Guzauskas, Florida
Lights Out America!
Lorraine Marullo
Dec 29, 2016 @ 11:43:44
Stop the CHEMTRAILS all over VERO BEACH, Fla,,,,!! The FEDERAL government needs to stop spraying toxic chemicals, viruses !! DEPOPULATION!!
OSCAR FREDY POSSO VITALI
Dec 20, 2016 @ 12:48:24
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, EPA AND A VISION FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BELONG TO ALL. THE CITIZENS PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ALLOW THAN PEOPLE AND GOVERMENT WORKING TOGETHER SEARCHING GOALS.
Diana Lundelius
Dec 20, 2016 @ 21:18:24
Hi Stan, Great post. I shared it on Linked In. Diana Lundelius, Region 6
Diana Lundelius
Dec 20, 2016 @ 21:19:26
Hi Stan,
Great post. I shared it on Linked In.
Gabriela Hansen
Dec 25, 2016 @ 23:16:38
I agree with this post a bit too! He is correct that we need to protect our environment ourselves. It is like people tell us, no one is going to take care of you if you don’t do it yourself. It is the same for the environment, act as if no one else is going to do it, and you start with yourself.
Gabriela Hansen
Dec 25, 2016 @ 23:18:43
I agree with what he says in this post. WE all need to take care of our environment. If we don’t start working towards saving the animals, plants, our air, we are going to start losing lots of those things. And the sad part is that we aren’t losing this things slowly, they are going away drastically fast.
Byron Spencer
Dec 26, 2016 @ 05:28:28
Yes indeed, the responsibility underlying environmental protection belongs to us, the average citizen. I hope that having this draft outlining the role of the public (as citizen science) goes beyond its current status as a framework and encourage actual participation in communities. A lot has to be done, and we can do it well if we know our duties and become active participants in these initiatives.
Dovie Peterson
Dec 26, 2016 @ 05:56:14
Hey really nice article very informational.
Lewis Chapman
Dec 28, 2016 @ 06:05:54
Its a beautiful page thanks we liked it.
Nathan Anderson
Dec 29, 2016 @ 06:05:57
Its a beautiful page thanks we liked it.
rafael
Dec 29, 2016 @ 15:11:04
Caring for the environment is everyone’s duty, everyone should be concerned about the environment in which we live. All people should plant at least one tree to help
aiydriver
Jan 02, 2017 @ 11:16:22
really nice article very informational.
aiydriver
Jan 02, 2017 @ 11:17:04
really nice article very informational
OSCAR FREDY POSSO VITALI
Jan 02, 2017 @ 15:55:56
CITIZEN SCIENCE BROADS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WHEN THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER SEARCHING SHARED GOALS.
Jason Blanchard
Jan 03, 2017 @ 04:16:11
Its a beautiful page thanks we liked it.