An evaluation of the participant and socio-ecological outcomes of eastern North Carolina citizen science project and recommendations for similar participatory research projects

Citizen science, also known as participatory research, combines the efforts among professional researchers and community volunteers to collect data. We have established a collaborative project in eastern North Carolina, near the 79,000-acre Hofmann Forest, comprising of 55,000 acres of planted forests and 24,00 acres of deep pocosin natural forests. The White Oak River, New River, and Trent River all flow out of the Hofmann. The Hofmann acts plays a keystone ecological role as it acts as a natural filtration system for harmful runoff that occurs in the coastal plain of North Carolina. 

The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the Hofmann Open-Water Laboratory (HOWL) citizen science project by assessing the perceptions of the HOWL participants and concluding if the project achieved its goals of individual development and community engagement and (2) to provide recommendations for the HOWL project, but also suggestions that can be used for other participatory research projects that are in the beginning phases. We interviewed 12 HOWL citizen scientists who participated in the project. Two major conclusions were drawn from the research. First, we recognized community engagement and collaboration drastically increased in rural Eastern NC due to the community member’s participation in water monitoring and natural resource management. Second, citizen scientists achieved their personal goals and objectives by participating in the HOWL project. Citizen scientists believed by participating in the project, they learned a new set of skills, gained knowledge of scientific and research procedures, developed an attachment to the community and region, and acted as an environmental steward. 

Further, by comparing the HOWL citizen scientist’s perceptions to the current citizen science literature, additional recommendations for the HOWL project were provided with this project’s evaluation. The results discussed in this paper will be used to sustain the collaborative efforts of the HOWL citizen science project for the future.