Citizen Science in Biology is a new book by Wilson Wall and David Morgan which celebrates the contribution that volunteers have made to the advancement of the natural sciences. It charts the historical development of citizen science, from its earliest days with amateur individuals working on their own, to the modern incarnation which often sees large numbers of people cooperating on environmental or health projects.

The book captures the breadth of citizen science – from the expansive efforts of the Zooniverse participants to the one man study of the subtleties in the relationship between mistletoe and oak trees, from the thermal imaging of lapwing chicks to the microscopic scrutiny of testate amoebae. In fact the authors themselves were surprised at just how immense the subject has become and how big a contribution the citizens scientists make – for example they describe over half of the new insect species found in Europe every year (and the same is probably true worldwide).

Unlike most books on the subject, this one focuses on the citizen scientists, their projects and the tools they use and in so doing endeavours to encourage individuals to participate and think beyond the simple collection of data.

Citizen Science in Biology. The History and Development of Public Participation in Science. Wilson Wall and David Morgan. Pelagic Publishing

ISBN:978-1-78427-584—6 Hardback

ISBN:978-1-78427-586—0 ePub

ISBN:978-1-78427-587—7 PDF