Anastasia Kolesnikova
PIPS Host Organisation: New Forest National Park Authority
Project Title: Developing Best-Practice Guidance for Citizen Science Projects in the New Forest National Park

Citizen science is increasingly used to collect data essential for both academic research and governmental organizations’ management practices. This is especially true for environmental and biodiversity data, which typically require data spanning large scales or long periods. There are many other potential benefits to citizen science projects, including engagement, local impact, increased scientific literacy, empowerment, and the democratisation of science. However, these benefits are typically under-evaluated, leading to a lack of understanding of whether they are genuinely achieved.

The aim of Anastasia Kolesnikova’s PIPS placement was to understand the limitations, challenges, and pitfalls of previous citizen science projects. She chose four projects ranging in scale, complexity, and participants, and carried out research into their design, data management strategies, engagement strategies, and impacts. Anastasia conducted interviews with participants and organisers to understand why certain choices were made for the projects. She also participated in stakeholder and project meetings, gaining insight into how projects are funded, carried out, and managed across different partners. Additionally, she gained experience in species identification and learned more about the management of gorse in the New Forest.

Anastasia was able to apply her existing research, synthesis, and evaluation skills in a different context from her PhD. She became more aware of the challenges and practices in managing projects where delivery is carried out by external partners. Anastasia boosted her skills in interview-based research, self-motivation, and organisation. She learned to identify certain nationally rare species, improved her communication skills, and reflected on certain practices in academia. Anastasia felt very rewarded to have been able to contribute positively to a new context with skills she developed during her PhD.