Opportunities for microbiology citizen science: lessons learnt from three pilot projects

Abstract

Citizen science (CS) is the partnering of professional scientists and members of the public to answer real-world scientific questions. There has been huge growth in CS over the past two decades, but uptake in microbiology research has, thus far, been relatively limited. In the first part of this article, we discuss how CS is well aligned with microbiology research: sample collection methods can be simplified and used in a variety of environments; projects are expected to appeal to participants as topics are likely to be of relevance to people’s lives and interests, including the health of people and the environment; and projects can also lead to real-world impact, including the identification of new drugs or biotechnological solutions. In the second part of this article, we present our reflections on three pilot projects we have recently completed. In order for the field to grow, people need to share both their successes as well as the challenges they have faced, so that others wanting to use the method can learn from these experiences. We share simplified sampling methods for yeast strains from home brewing and baking, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on home-grown produce and microbes on chopping boards. However, participation in our projects was limited by a range of factors, including time available and resourcing, which impacted on our ability to generate new knowledge and wider impacts. We provide recommendations for others wishing to run microbiology CS projects, including ensuring appropriate resourcing and considering the ethical implications of projects.