Citizen science boosts wellbeing—but duration and social connection matter
Citizen science can improve health and wellbeing. Photo by Andrew Burns.
Can participating in citizen science make us feel better? A new study led by lab alumnus Dr Rachel Oh and an international team—including current lab researchers—has shown that nature-based citizen science initiatives can enhance mental health and emotional wellbeing, particularly when experiences are immersive and socially engaging.
The research team surveyed participants before and after five biodiversity-focused citizen science initiatives in Australia and Germany. These ranged from brief 15-minute nature observations to a full 48-hour weekend conservation event. Participants reported improvements in stress, anxiety, and emotional wellbeing—especially those involved in longer and more socially connected experiences like the Queensland Trust for Nature project.
Interestingly, although many participants already felt highly connected to nature, the study found only modest improvements in nature connectedness after participation. This “ceiling effect” suggests that those who might benefit most from citizen science may be people with less prior engagement in nature.
The study highlights a growing opportunity: by intentionally designing citizen science programs with wellbeing in mind, we can support both conservation outcomes and public health.
The paper is open access and available here.