Objectif Sciences International

OSI Madagascar - Exchanges for Creation and Development

*LocalGroup Creation — 2026-02-24T20:05:33Z

Ce groupe est pour celles et ceux qui participent à la mise en œuvre de solutions, et qui, dans leur projet pour une évolution durable, désirent implanter une activité de l'ONG Objectif Sciences International sur leur région.

Sommaire

Si vous désirez intégrer l'équipe qui s'implique actuellement dans la création du Groupe Local, merci de :

Créer votre compte utilisateur sur ce site internet,
Remplir ce formulaire de proposition de votre profil à l'ONG,
Poster un message pour vous présenter, sur le forum de travail de cette page.

Etapes de Création du Groupe Local dans votre Pays

La Procédure Simplifiée et Accélérée de Création de votre Groupe Local OSI dans votre Pays est décrite de manière complète sur cette page.

Les premières étapes permettant la création d'un GROUPE LOCAL DE OSI dans votre région, sont :

1) Réunion d'un minimum de 15 acteurs et actrices, sur ce présent groupe
=> Pour ce faire, merci de poster un message sur le forum de cette page pour vous présenter, tout simplement

2) Un minimum de 3 personnes du futur Groupe Local, s'inscrivent et suivent à Paris la Formation Pédagogie de Projet Appliquée à la Recherche Participative dédiée à la réussite de l'Education et à la Résolution des Objectifs du Développement Durable (voir ce lien) (Vous pouvez suivre chacun une session différente, donc inscrivez vous individuellement sans attendre sur une autre personne obligatoirement)

3) L'organisation, dans le pays du Groupe Local, d'une session de la Formation de Niveau 1 de OSI “Pédagogie de Projet Appliquée à la Recherche Participative dédiée à la réussite de l'Education et à la Résolution des Objectifs du Développement Durable” pour tous les membres du futur Groupe Local (avec un minimum de 60 personnes réunies à l'occasion de cette formation).
=> Merci de mener vos échanges de discussion avec OSI sur cette page pour l'organisation de cette Formation sur votre région (voir fil de discussion à ce sujet)

4) Un minimum de 3 personnes du futur Groupe Local, s'inscrivent et suivent à l'ONU à Genève la Formation Initiale aux Métiers de Responsables de Programme (voir ce lien) (Vous pouvez suivre chacun une session différente, donc inscrivez vous individuellement sans attendre sur une autre personne obligatoirement)
=> Ce séminaire de travail vous permet d'établir avec les acteurs de la région de votre Groupe Local toutes les étapes de la Feuille de Route conduisant le Groupe Local vers l'implantation définitive et durable de OSI sur la région, avec le démarrage de ses activités économique (création d'emplois, projets de recherche participative pour résoudre les enjeux locaux, éducation aux sciences pour les publics ciblés tels que enfants, adultes, groupes scolaires...)

Une démarche est actuellement en cours, dans votre Pays, menées par des professionnels tels que vous, pour la création du Groupe Local de l'ONG Objectif Sciences International.

Emplois et Missions

Selon si vous cherchez un emploi ou si vous êtes prestataire, les emplois et missions proposées par ce Groupe Local de l'ONG Objectif Sciences International sont :

Education aux Sciences
Intervention dans les Ecoles
Encadrement et animation de Séjours Scientifiques et Nature
Encadrement de formation techniques
Direction de Programmes de Recherche et d'Education aux Sciences de l'ONG OSI
Direction de Programmes de Développement Participatif de l'ONG OSI au Sénégal (Représentant Commercial ou Leveur de Fonds)
Direction de Programmes de Pédagogie et Logistique du Développement Durable de l'ONG OSI

Echéances

La démarche qui a été initiée sur votre pays conduit à la création d'activité dans votre Pays, pour le public de votre pays. Cette création d'activité inclut la création d'emplois.

Celles et ceux qui désirent être impliqués dans cette démarche de création d'emploi dans votre pays doivent pouvoir suivre la Formation “St1 - Pédagogie de Projet Appliquée à la Recherche Participative dédiée à la réussite de l'Education et à la Résolution des Objectifs du Développement Durable”.

Les échéances à jour pour les prochaines étapes auxquelles vous devez participer, ou faire participer vos partenaires, employés ou étudiants, sont postées sur le fil de discussion “Prochaines échéances” sur le forum de cette page.

Liste de l'Offre OSI

La présence d'une équipe locale de l'ONG OSI dans un pays, c'est :

Une équipe de professionnels, formés en continus, autonomes, qui font de OSI ce qu'ils proposent pour OSI, dans leur pays
La création d'emploi, et de revenus, pour vous, et pour l'économie locale (de 5 à 50 emplois créés selon les pays)
Une offre de Séjours de Recherche Scientifique Participative pour les habitants de votre pays
Une offre de Formations techniques dans tous les domaines scientifique, technique, et environnementaux
Une offre de Formation pédagogiques de haut niveau, pour les membres de l'équipe OSI de votre pays, et pour votre public (écoles, universités...)
Une offre d'Interventions pédagogiques dans les établissements scolaires et universitaires de votre pays
Un ensemble de résolutions de problèmes de développement durable dans votre pays, grâce aux actions et programmes que vous mettez en place au sein du Groupe OSI de votre pays
Un programme de Colloques annuels, dans votre pays, sur les thèmes de vos activités
Vous avez accès tous les ans à la Convention annuelle internationale d'OSI qui se tient au sein de l'ONU, au Palais des Nations, à Genève.

Mentors et Formateurs

Vous êtes déjà enseignants, en poste de chercheurs, chef d'entreprise.

Pour vous, rejoindre le Groupe OSI dans votre pays, c'est nous aider à créer plus vite, et plus fort encore, les emplois sur votre pays.

Rejoignez nous en suivant, vous aussi, la formation “St1 - Pédagogie de Projet Appliquée à la Recherche Participative dédiée à la réussite de l'Education et à la Résolution des Objectifs du Développement Durable” afin que vous puissiez vous aussi être intégrés au sein du Groupe OSI de votre pays, dont VOUS aurez votre part décisionnelle sur les directions à prendre dans votre pays pour cette section locale de l'ONG OSI.

Mode opératoire

Pour pouvoir :

soutenir les création d'emploi en tant que Mentor,
ou
bénéficier d'un emploi pour vous-mêmes,

il vous faut :

vous inscrire à la formation “St1 - Pédagogie des Sciences par le Projet appliquée à la Recherche Participative pour le Développement Durable” qui a lieu dans votre pays en consultant cette page : http://www.educateur-scientifique.com/Formation-de-Niveau-1-en-Pedagogie.html à Paris ou dans votre Pays (voir détail sur le programme de la Formation ainsi que les messages postés sur le forum de travail de cette présente page)

Si vous désirez allez plus loin, et prendre une part de responsabilité dans la création du Groupe Local OSI dans votre pays, vous pouvez également :

consulter la page décrivant la procédure simplifiée de création du Groupe Local
Poster un premier message pour vous présenter, puis échanger sur les questions en cours de débats, sur le Groupe de Discussion de cette page, pour suivre toutes les avancées du projet, être au courant de ce qui se passe

Contacts

Les Responsables de la Création du Groupe OSI dans votre pays prendront contact avec vous aussi tôt que vous aurez posté un message de présentation sur le forum de cette page.

Par ailleurs, vous pouvez également vous mettre en relation avec toutes les autres personnes impliquées dans la création du Groupe OSI dans votre pays en les contactant directement depuis ce même groupe de discussion.

Vous pourrez ainsi obtenir de nombreuses informations en posant toutes les questions que vous désirez.

OSI Martinique - Echanges pour Création et Développement

Chloé LAROSE — 2025-10-09T04:14:56Z

Anyone seeking solutions, committed to sustainable development, and wants to help is welcome to join Objectif Sciences International in the work we are doing in their country.

Sommaire

If you would like to join the team working to establish a Local Group, please:

Create a User Account at,
Complete your Profile,
Post a message introducing yourself on the Forum page.

Steps to create a Local Group in your country

A quick and easy way to create an OSI Local Group in your country can be found at this page.

The first steps to creating an OSI LOCAL GROUP in your region are:

1) Bring together a minimum of 15 people to form the group
=> To do this, simply post a message, on the Forum page, introducing yourself

2) In order to form a Local Group, a minimum of 3 people must register and participate in the in Paris Participatory Research Educational Training Project dedicated to continuous learning and the successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (see link) (Individuals may register for different sessions, there is no need to complete the training as a group.)

3) Host, in the country in which the Local Group will operate, an OSI Level 1 “Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com Educational Training Project dedicated to continuous learning and the successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” Training Session for all future members of the Local Group (a minimum of 60 people must attend this training).
=> Please use this page to discuss how to organize this training in your area with OSI (see discussion thread on this subject)

4) A minimum of 3 people from the Local Group, must register and complete at the UN in Geneva the Initial Training for Program Managers (see link) (Individuals may register for different sessions, there is no need to complete the training as a group.)
=> This working seminar will allow you, along with other participants from your region, to develop a roadmap that will help your Local Group bring OSI's work to your country, this will begin with activities targeting the local economy (job creation, participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com projects to resolve local issues, science education for targeted audiences such as children, adults, school groups, etc.)

Professionals, like you, are currently helping to establish an Objectif Sciences International Local Group in your country.

Jobs and Assignments

Whether you are looking for a job or are a service provider, the Objectif Sciences International Local Group offers job and assignment opportunities, such as:

* Science education
Working with Schools
Developing and Managing Science and Nature Camps
* Technical training supervision
* Managing OSI Research Programs and Science Education
* Managing OSI Participatory Development Programs in Senegal (Sales Representative or Fundraiser)
* Managing OSI Education and Logistics Sustainable Development Programs

Deadlines

Activities will be completed in your country and will benefit your people. Jobs will be created.

Those who wish to be involved in the process of creating in-country jobs must participate in the “St1 - Participatory Research Educational Training Project dedicated to continuous learning and the successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” Training.

Updated deadlines for the next steps of which you, your partners, employees, or students should be aware, are posted in the “Upcoming Deadlines” discussion thread on the Forum page.

List of OSI Opportunities}

An OSI local team in a country will offer::

* An up-to-date and fully autonomous team of professionals, working on behalf of OSI, in their country
* Job creation, and income, benefiting you and the local economy (from 5 to 50 jobs will be created depending on the country)
- * Participatory Scientific Research Camps in which local people can take part
* Technical training in the scientific, technical and environmental sectors
* Advanced educational training for members of your country's OSI team and those with whom you will be assisting and working (schools, universities...)
* The opportunity to work with your country's schools and universities
* A set of resolutions regarding sustainable development problems specific to your country, drafted thanks to the actions and programs that you helped create as part of this OSI Group
* Annual conferences, taking place in your country, which address and discuss the activities in which you are participating
* Every year, you will be invited to the OSI International Annual Convention, hosted by the UN, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva.

Mentors and Training

You are already teachers, researchers and business leaders.

For you, joining your country's OSI Local Group will mean helping us to create better local jobs in less time.

Join us for the “St1 - Participatory Research Educational Training Project dedicated to continuous learning and the successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” training so that you too can become part of your country's Local OSI Group and take part in making the decisions about the direction your country will take, as part of the OSI.

Working with us

To be able to:

* support job creation as a Mentor,
or
* find a job,

You must:

* register for the “St1 - Participatory Research Educational Training Project dedicated to continuous learning and the successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” training held in your country, by clicking: http://www.educateur-scientifique.com/Formation-de-Niveau-1-en-Pedagogie.html?lang=en in Paris or in your country (see details on the training program as well as other messages posted on the Forum page)

If you want to go further and dive deeper into the creation of an OSI Local Group in your country, you can also:

* consult the page describing the [Quick and Easy Way to Create a Local Group|Creation of a Local NGO Group>http://www.osi-ngo.org/agir-vous-memes/create-the-ngo-local-group-in-your-region?lang=en]
Introduce yourself, then join in discussions taking place in the Discussion Group, found on this page, follow the project's progress and keep up with current developments

Contact

Your country's OSI Group managers will contact you as soon as you post your introduction on the Forum page.

Additionally, you can reach out to other people involved in establishing an OSI Group in your country by contacting them directly within the discussion group.

You can get all the information you need and pose all your questions.

OSI Reunion - Exchanges for Creation and Development

Chloé LAROSE, Amandine FRUTEAU — 2025-10-02T03:53:18Z

Anyone seeking solutions, committed to sustainable development, and wants to help is welcome to join Objectif Sciences International in the work we are doing in their country.

Sommaire

If you would like to join the team working to establish a Local Group, please:

Create a User Account at,
Complete your Profile,
Post a message introducing yourself on the Forum page.

Steps to create a Local Group in your country

A quick and easy way to create an OSI Local Group in your country can be found at this page.

The first steps to creating an OSI LOCAL GROUP in your region are:

1) Bring together a minimum of 15 people to form the group
=> To do this, simply post a message, on the Forum page, introducing yourself

Professionals, like you, are currently helping to establish an Objectif Sciences International Local Group in your country.

Jobs and Assignments

Whether you are looking for a job or are a service provider, the Objectif Sciences International Local Group offers job and assignment opportunities, such as:

* Science education
Working with Schools
Developing and Managing Science and Nature Camps
* Technical training supervision
* Managing OSI Research Programs and Science Education
* Managing OSI Participatory Development Programs in Senegal (Sales Representative or Fundraiser)
* Managing OSI Education and Logistics Sustainable Development Programs

Deadlines

Activities will be completed in your country and will benefit your people. Jobs will be created.

Updated deadlines for the next steps of which you, your partners, employees, or students should be aware, are posted in the “Upcoming Deadlines” discussion thread on the Forum page.

List of OSI Opportunities}

An OSI local team in a country will offer::

* An up-to-date and fully autonomous team of professionals, working on behalf of OSI, in their country
* Job creation, and income, benefiting you and the local economy (from 5 to 50 jobs will be created depending on the country)
- * Participatory Scientific Research Camps in which local people can take part
* Technical training in the scientific, technical and environmental sectors
* Advanced educational training for members of your country's OSI team and those with whom you will be assisting and working (schools, universities...)
* The opportunity to work with your country's schools and universities
* A set of resolutions regarding sustainable development problems specific to your country, drafted thanks to the actions and programs that you helped create as part of this OSI Group
* Annual conferences, taking place in your country, which address and discuss the activities in which you are participating
* Every year, you will be invited to the OSI International Annual Convention, hosted by the UN, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva.

Mentors and Training

You are already teachers, researchers and business leaders.

For you, joining your country's OSI Local Group will mean helping us to create better local jobs in less time.

Working with us

To be able to:

* support job creation as a Mentor,
or
* find a job,

You must:

* register for the “St1 - Participatory Research Educational Training Project dedicated to continuous learning and the successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” training held in your country, by clicking: http://www.educateur-scientifique.com/Formation-de-Niveau-1-en-Pedagogie.html?lang=en in Paris or in your country (see details on the training program as well as other messages posted on the Forum page)

If you want to go further and dive deeper into the creation of an OSI Local Group in your country, you can also:

* consult the page describing the [Quick and Easy Way to Create a Local Group|Creation of a Local NGO Group>http://www.osi-ngo.org/agir-vous-memes/create-the-ngo-local-group-in-your-region?lang=en]
Introduce yourself, then join in discussions taking place in the Discussion Group, found on this page, follow the project's progress and keep up with current developments

Contact

Your country's OSI Group managers will contact you as soon as you post your introduction on the Forum page.

Additionally, you can reach out to other people involved in establishing an OSI Group in your country by contacting them directly within the discussion group.

You can get all the information you need and pose all your questions.

Formats innovants de sciences participatives pour l'étude de la biodiversité et des impacts climatiques en Suisse

Chloé LAROSE — 2025-06-01T23:02:47Z

What are the differences between Citizen Science, Participatory Science and Participatory Research?

Thomas EGLI — 2024-09-30T07:21:26Z

The terms Citizen Science, Participatory Science, and Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com are often used interchangeably, but they refer to quite different approaches to collaboration between scientists and non-scientists. Here are the main distinctions:

Citizen Science: Citizens are mainly involved in data collection, or in subcontracting data processing and analysis (photos, etc.) when AI cannot yet do this work. They are not involved in the design of the project, the experiments or the interpretation of the results.
Participatory science: Involvement of citizens or social actors at different levels of the project, from data collection to project design, including carrying out experiments.
Participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com : Deeper or even total collaboration, where citizens or stakeholders participate in all stages of the research process.

Also check out the training on the design and facilitation of a Participatory Science project

These approaches share a common desire to include non-scientists in the production of knowledge, but vary according to the degree of involvement and the final objective of the research.

Citizen sciences
Citizen science refers specifically to raising the awareness of non-scientific citizens through scientific research projects that are open to them. The term emphasises the role of citizens as key players in collecting data, monitoring ecosystems, observing scientific phenomena and analysing results when this is long and tedious. Citizens make a direct contribution to the production of knowledge, often outside traditional academic frameworks.

Key features:

Participation is often geared towards data collection and observation (e.g. bird counts, star tracking, pollution measurements).
Projects are often initiated by scientists, but citizens play a massive role in collecting or processing data.
Examples include bird counting projects and pollinator insect monitoring projects.

Participatory sciences
Participatory science encompasses a broader spectrum of collaboration between researchers and the general public. The term places the emphasis on active participation through practice, with a prior build-up of skills, which can take place at different levels: from data collection to interpretation, to the actual design of the scientific project, including carrying out the experiments. Participatory science generally includes citizens as well as other social players (associations, local authorities, companies).

Key features:

Participation can take place at various stages of the project: definition of the research questions, data collection, analysis of data beyond simple data analysis, dissemination of results.
Projects are often interdisciplinary and may involve citizens, NGOs, public institutions, etc.
Examples: Air quality projects where citizens help to measure local pollution while working with scientists to interpret the results.

Participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com
Participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com refers to a framework in which citizens, or other stakeholders, are actively and collaboratively involved in all stages of the research process, including the definition of the research question, design, methodology, collection of data or scientific experiments, analysis, and dissemination of results. This model is often used in social justice or action research contexts, where the results are co-created by the researchers and the communities concerned, and where the research has a social transformation objective - Community Based Participatory Research. However, it has also developed in the form of Impact Based Participatory Research since its origins as a Science Club in 1992, and then in 2005 on Scientific Stays (school trips and scientific discovery classes, solidarity science holidays, holiday camps, etc.) in research projects where non-scientists are involved as researchers in fundamental or applied research subjects that do not directly concern them.

Key features:

Citizens are not just data collectors, but co-designers of the project, influencing the methodology and objectives.
Citizens are involved at absolutely every stage of the research, regardless of age (children, teenagers, adults).
The aim is often to solve practical, societal or local problems.
Examples: Action research projects where local communities participate in defining solutions to improve their living environment (e.g. management of natural resources, food autonomy and greening of buildings in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, increasing biodiversity in an island lagoon) or Fundamental research projects (detection of exoplanets, dinosaur research, fundamental physics, chemistry and water treatment, etc.).

Potential future developments

Many potential developments are now beginning to appear on the horizon, due to the growing increase in research conducted in these three formats and the exponential number of publications resulting from these citizen formats and signed by these citizens themselves, authors of articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

While the operational work consists of improving the operating methods, the pedagogical progression, and the adequacy of the material resources enabling such participative research projects, new ambitions are now becoming realistic. These include, for example, developing the field of Citizen Research in the same way as Public Research and Private Research, in both Fundamental Research and Applied Research.

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of Participatory Science Projects

In collaboration between Objectif Sciences International and Step and Go, this training is specifically dedicated to the techniques for creating and designing a Participatory Science project for Sustainable Development, as well as the techniques for leading and facilitating a Participatory Science project using a Project-Based Learning approach:

https://training-for-development.com/-Sciences-Participatives-Step-1-?lang=en

Choose the 3-day residential version or the 4-day non-residential option, in the Alps, Paris, Nice, New York... or request a date specifically dedicated for your team.

Possible Implementation Formats for Research within a Participatory Research Project

Thomas EGLI, Maxime ROUMAZEILLES — 2024-09-10T10:11:38Z

Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com is a specific format of Research.

When it is sufficiently supported by both the scientific community and one or more citizen communities involved in the Research, it would represent a significant missed opportunity for Science if this format only served to propose the same projects, following the same epistemological approaches or experimental methods as Academic Research.

In this context, what approaches and proposals are unique to Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com ?

Also check out the training on the design and facilitation of a Participatory Science project

Sommaire

Epistemological Approaches

Scientific Approaches

What Research is Possible in Citizen Science?

Private Research

Public Research

Citizen Research

Conclusion

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of (...)

Translate

To properly focus on the subject of this article, it is useful to first situate the role of Real Research across various formats of Science with and for Society.

Citizen Science Participatory Science Participatory Research with Impact Community-Based Participatory Research

General Format Contributions of non-scientific citizens to data collection or processing Non-scientists participating in several stages, including experiments Non-scientists involved in all stages of research not directly related to their personal interests Involves individuals in research addressing issues specific to their community

History Emerged with the rise of technology and the Internet, facilitating citizen participation Evolution of citizen science towards broader participant engagement More recent form focusing on varied scientific issues Originates from social justice movements and local initiatives

Drivers Citizens and scientists, with strong scientist initiative Collaboration between scientists and non-scientists Researchers, educators, NGOs, and diverse publics Local communities, associations, and researchers

Goals Large-scale data collection, enhancing scientific knowledge Citizen engagement in research, increasing scientific transparency Advancing knowledge in strategic areas not directly connected to participants Solving community-specific problems, enhancing self-determination

Common Fields Astronomy, environment, biodiversity Biology, ecology, social sciences Energy, environment, sustainable development Public health, local development, sociology

Examples Galaxy Zoo, eBird... Local wildlife observations, collaborative social studies Projects on climate change impacts, medical research Participatory action research on health issues, community agriculture

Epistemological Approaches

Epistemological approaches are theoretical frameworks that guide how researchers approach their research and interpret results. Currently, different epistemological approaches are used in scientific research, each with its advantages and limitations.

The main epistemological approaches implemented in traditional research include, though not exhaustively:

Positivism: This epistemological approach considers that reality can be objectively observed and measured. However, it may overlook subjective and complex aspects of reality, as well as the interactions between the researcher and the subject of study.
Social Constructivism: This epistemological approach emphasizes the social construction of reality and the role of individual and collective interpretations. However, it can be criticized for excessive relativity, placing less importance on objective facts and empirical research.
Postmodernism: This epistemological approach questions grand narratives and absolute truths. However, its radical skepticism can make it difficult to reach consensus and produce reliable knowledge.

Epistemological approaches in Science regularly evolve, as scientific research is a vast and diverse field, and each researcher may have their own approach and epistemological preferences.

However, it is possible to identify certain epistemological approaches that are less commonly used in contemporary scientific research. For instance, radical epistemological relativism, which holds that each perspective is equally valid and that there is no absolute truth, is generally less favored due to its implications for the validity of scientific conclusions.

Furthermore, some more philosophical epistemological approaches, such as mysticism or intuitionism, are generally considered incompatible with the fundamental principles of the scientific method, which is based on observation, experimentation, and empirical rigor.

At present, however, several epistemological approaches could be particularly beneficial in the context of research conducted in a participatory manner with non-scientific citizens:

Empiricism: This approach emphasizes observation and experience. By encouraging citizens to observe and experiment on their own, research can be enriched by including different viewpoints and gathering empirical data from various sources.
Social Constructivism: This approach emphasizes the social construction of reality and the role of shared knowledge. By encouraging the participation of non-scientific citizens in research, their awareness can be raised regarding how scientific knowledge is constructed and used, thus fostering critical reflection on this knowledge.
Pragmatism: This approach emphasizes the practical application of knowledge. By working participatorily with non-scientific citizens, research can address issues relevant to society and result in practical solutions that meet citizens' needs.

It is entirely possible that the still-young format of Participatory Research will give rise to new epistemological approaches that are yet unknown.

It is important to note that all epistemological approaches have their strengths and limitations, and it is often beneficial to combine different approaches in participatory research. The goal is to create an inclusive space where scientific knowledge and citizens' practical knowledge can mutually enrich one another.

Scientific Approaches

Scientific approaches are methods used to acquire knowledge in a rigorous and systematic manner. They vary based on disciplines, research questions, and methodological approaches. Here are the main forms of scientific approaches:

Hypothetico-Deductive Approach
This is one of the most classic approaches. It follows these steps:
Observation: A phenomenon is observed.
Hypothesis formulation: Based on the observation, a hypothesis is formulated.
Experimentation: The hypothesis is tested through experiments or studies.
Deduction: If the experiment confirms the hypothesis, a general law or principle is deduced.
Verification/Falsification: The law or theory can be reviewed based on new observations.
Inductive Approach
This approach is based on the accumulation of observations, leading to the formulation of general laws or theories:
Repeated observation: A certain phenomenon is observed multiple times under various conditions.
Generalization: From these observations, laws or principles are formulated that appear to apply broadly.
Validation: These generalities are tested in other contexts to ensure their validity.
Experimental Approach
This approach involves manipulating variables to understand their effect on a given phenomenon:
Hypothesis formulation: Based on a research question.
Experiment planning: Experimental conditions are carefully defined, with an independent variable (manipulated) and a dependent variable (measured).
Experimentation: The experiment is conducted, and data is collected.
Analysis and conclusion: The results are analyzed to determine whether the hypothesis is confirmed or refuted.
Descriptive Approach
This approach aims to simply describe a phenomenon without necessarily seeking to explain its causes:
Observation: A phenomenon is observed in its natural environment.
Data collection: Observations are meticulously recorded and described.
Analysis: The data is analyzed to identify trends or recurring characteristics.
Historical Approach
Primarily used in the humanities, this approach involves reconstructing and analyzing past events:
Source research: Documents, testimonies, archaeological artifacts, etc.
Interpretation: Sources are analyzed and interpreted to understand the causes and consequences of events.
Synthesis: Events are placed in a broader historical context to draw lessons or identify regularities.
Modeling Approach
This approach is particularly used in exact and natural sciences (physics, biology, economics, etc.):
Model construction: A theoretical or mathematical model representing a complex phenomenon is developed.
Simulation: The model is tested through simulations to observe its behavior.
Model revision: Based on results, the model is adjusted to better reflect reality.
Comparative Approach
This approach involves comparing different cases or phenomena to identify differences or similarities:
Selection of comparison objects: Different groups, events, or phenomena are selected.
Comparative analysis: The compared elements are studied to identify common patterns or significant differences.
Conclusion: Conclusions are drawn based on observed similarities or differences.

These various approaches are often complementary. In practice, a scientist may use several of these methods within a single study to address complex questions.

What Research is Possible in Citizen Science?

The question of who asks which questions to know what in scientific research is crucial, as it influences not only the choice of subjects studied but also how results are interpreted and applied. This context helps to understand the specificities and potentials offered by three types of research: Private Research, Public Research, and finally Citizen Research. Each has unique characteristics and offers unique opportunities depending on who leads it, with what goals, and what questions are posed.

Private Research

Private Research is conducted by companies or non-public organizations to develop products, services, or solutions for a specific market. It is often driven by economic interests or commercial goals.

Potential:
Rapid Innovation: Private research is often focused on concrete results, which can accelerate the development of innovative technologies or products. It benefits from substantial funding and more flexible organization, allowing for responsiveness to market needs.
Pragmatic, Results-Oriented Approach: Due to the importance of financial returns, private research projects are often highly targeted on practical questions. This leads to innovations directly beneficial to society, such as medications, technologies, or environmental solutions.
Public-Private Partnerships: Increasingly, collaborations between the private sector and public institutions allow for resource and skill-sharing. This fosters synergies that drive research in strategic fields.
Limitations:
Profit Orientation: Private research tends to prioritize topics likely to generate short- or medium-term profits, sometimes at the expense of fundamental research or non-profitable but socially essential fields, such as biodiversity or social inequality.
Potential Bias: Research questions may be influenced by commercial interests. This can sometimes lead to conflicts of interest or limit the transparency of results, particularly if findings are patented or protected as trade secrets.
Exclusivity of Discoveries: Unlike public research, private research findings are not always shared freely, limiting their global impact.
Public Research

Public Research is conducted by government-funded institutions (universities, public research centers) and aims at the common good rather than immediate economic profitability.

Potential:
Fundamental Knowledge: Public research is essential for the development of fundamental knowledge, often without immediate application but with long-term implications (e.g., theoretical physics, basic biology, mathematics).
Public Interest: Unlike private research, public research addresses questions that benefit society as a whole, such as public health, education, or the environment. It is less influenced by commercial imperatives, allowing for greater diversity in topics addressed.
Transparency and Results Sharing: Public research results are generally accessible to the public through open scientific publications, allowing other researchers and the public to benefit from these advances.
Long-Term Project Support: Governments can support long-term research projects, even without immediate results. This stability is crucial for large-scale projects like research in astrophysics, climatology, or medicine.
Limitations:
Limited Funding: Public research depends on government budgets, which can fluctuate according to political priorities. This can limit certain disciplines' ability to fully develop.
Process Slowdown: Public institutions may be more bureaucratic, sometimes slowing down project implementation and results exploitation.
Lack of Immediate Pragmatism: Some public research may be overly theoretical and lack immediate or practical applications to address urgent societal needs.
Citizen Research

Citizen Research is a participatory approach that engages non-professional citizens in scientific projects at all stages of the research process, including the scientific question being posed. This type of research offers unique advantages:

Potential:
Diversification of Research Questions: Citizen Research allows addressing questions not always prioritized by professional researchers or public/private institutions. Citizens, directly involved in daily life, can raise local, social, or environmental issues often overlooked.
Science Ownership and Democratization: Involving citizens in knowledge production can bridge the gap between the scientific community and civil society. It makes science more accessible, enhances transparency, and can build greater trust in research.
Data Richness: Citizens can be a major data-collection force, especially in studies requiring extensive geographical or temporal coverage. For example, in environmental research, citizen networks can collect information on biodiversity or weather conditions.
Social Innovation: Citizen research can foster practical and innovative solutions to social problems, as citizens are directly affected by the issues being studied. This approach facilitates the emergence of ideas that might not have been addressed by traditional researchers.
Independence: Unlike private research, citizen research is often less influenced by financial or commercial interests. This allows for freer, sometimes more critical, questions regarding existing economic or social models.
Limitations:
Identifying and securing funding and resources that Citizen Research could benefit from on par with private or public research (Project calls) or specifically (Impact Philanthropy, Blended Finance, Crowdfunding, Donation-Action...).
Ensuring scientific rigor and result reproducibility by building capacity among participating citizens alongside members of the Scientific Community.
Supervision and training of citizens, before, during, and after projects, are necessary to prevent biases in data collection.

The potentials of Citizen Research lie in its ability to address public interest questions often neglected by other types of research and democratize science by bringing citizens closer to knowledge production processes. Private Research, on the other hand, provides rapid and targeted innovation but with economic bias risks. Public Research focuses on general and fundamental interest questions, with open knowledge access but sometimes faces budgetary, bureaucratic, or even political or strategic limitations.

Each of these forms of research thus plays a complementary role in knowledge production, and collaboration between these different spheres can maximize societal benefits.

Conclusion

The format of Participatory Research is still young, and it is noted that scientific supervisors and project facilitators tend to want to implement Participatory Research projects under their responsibility by adopting commonly recognized approaches within traditional scientific research projects.

However, this approach represents a significant missed opportunity regarding the added value that Participatory Research offers. Failing to implement the alternative approaches and epistemological stances allowed by Participatory Research not only limits its benefits, but traditional research itself also looks to Participatory Research to address areas of action that it cannot cover, thus expanding possibilities for data collection, methods, and cross-referencing frameworks.

In this context, it is expected that Participatory Research project supervisors will explore new forms of research implementation, new project possibilities, or even new epistemological stances. In anticipation of such innovative frameworks, supervisors are encouraged to deploy within Participatory Research the epistemological stances and scientific approaches that exist but are not currently undertaken by traditional research.

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of Participatory Science Projects

In collaboration between Objectif Sciences International and Step and Go, this training is specifically dedicated to the techniques for creating and designing a Participatory Science project for Sustainable Development, as well as the techniques for leading and facilitating a Participatory Science project using a Project-Based Learning approach:

https://training-for-development.com/-Sciences-Participatives-Step-1-?lang=en

Choose the 3-day residential version or the 4-day non-residential option, in the Alps, Paris, Nice, New York... or request a date specifically dedicated for your team.

Distinguishing truly Participatory Research from Research that involves non-scientists without genuine participation

Thomas EGLI — 2024-04-16T13:07:00Z

It is essential to distinguish between, on one hand, scientific research that involves non-scientists merely as sources of information, and, on the other hand, truly participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com in which these individuals are integrated into every stage of the process as researchers.

This distinction is based on fundamental differences in goals, approaches, responsibilities, power dynamics, values, and impact, leading to an entirely different practical application.

Here is a more detailed explanation of these two types of research and their importance.

Also check out the training on the design and facilitation of a Participatory Science project

Sommaire

Objectives

Approaches

Responsibilities

Power

Values and Ethics

Impact

Conclusion

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of (...)

[!glossary]
[!summary]

It is possible to distinguish several concrete forms of implementing Science with and for Society.

<- Scientific Outreach (CCSTI)
->

- <- Science Education
->

- - <- Citizen Science
->

- - - <- Participatory Science
->

- - - - Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com

However, if we focus solely on conducting research that is genuinely participatory (last row of the table), not only must the Research be real and address a genuine scientific question (otherwise, the project may be participatory but not considered Research), but it is equally problematic if the project's organization is not truly participatory.

This article addresses this latter point and presents a series of criteria to distinguish, on the one hand, genuine research that involves non-scientists but is NOT Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com and, on the other hand, genuine research that involves non-scientists through sufficient roles and methods to qualify as truly Participatory Research.

(You can also refer to the article What milestones help structure a Participatory Research project?, which will help you organize your project to make it viable in these terms.)

The following distinctions thus start from the case of genuine scientific research and focus solely on participation levels.

Objectives

In scientific research involving non-scientists as sources of information or feedback and solutions testing, the primary objective is usually to collect data or information from these individuals to feed into a scientific study. Although non-scientists appear throughout the research project description, they play a passive role by providing data without being involved in study design, data analysis, hypothesis testing, or significant decision-making.

In contrast, the objective in participatory research is to create an equitable partnership between researchers and non-scientists, allowing the latter to actively participate in defining research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results. The goal is to empower non-scientists and build their capacity to engage in a collaborative research process.

Approaches

In traditional scientific research, researchers typically define the research framework, methods, and objectives, while non-scientists are asked to provide information or data as needed. This approach is often referred to as “researcher-led science.”

Participatory research, on the other hand, relies on a “community-led” or “participant-led” approach. Non-scientists are actively involved in research design, data collection and interpretation, and decision-making. Researchers act as facilitators rather than directors.

Responsibilities

In traditional research, researchers bear most of the responsibility for the quality and validity of results. Non-scientists are considered more as informants or testers.

In participatory research, responsibility is shared between researchers and non-scientists. Non-scientists are co-responsible for the design, implementation, and interpretation of the research. This approach promotes greater transparency and mutual accountability.

Power

In traditional research, researchers hold decision-making power regarding the selection of research questions, methods, and result dissemination. Non-scientists play a subordinate role.

Participatory research seeks to redistribute power by recognizing that non-scientists have valuable expertise and a deep understanding of their own reality. Decisions are made jointly, creating a more equitable process.

Values and Ethics

Traditional scientific research is sometimes criticized for lacking sensitivity to the needs and concerns of the communities studied, raising ethical questions.

Participatory research is founded on principles of equity, respect, justice, and partnership. It acknowledges the intrinsic value of local knowledge and non-scientists' expertise. However, this approach alone does not automatically render Research participatory, as a traditional research approach that respects the research subjects would still not be participatory. For this, one must refer to the previously outlined criteria.

Impact

Traditional research can sometimes be perceived as imposed from the outside, with potentially limited impact on beneficiaries.

Participatory research has the potential to make a more significant impact on the communities involved, as it aims to address their needs and strengthen their capacity to engage in the research process, with solutions originating from them. Additionally, it offers substantial potential for learning and education, as this type of research allows non-scientists to engage in Community-Based Learning.

Conclusion

In summary, it is essential not to confuse traditional scientific research that involves non-scientists as sources of information with truly participatory research where these individuals are active partners.

Participatory research aims to create equitable partnerships, redistribute power, value local expertise, and positively impact the communities involved. It is based on values of equity, respect, and justice, and offers significant potential for enhancing research and its outcomes.

To further pursue this direction, one could, for example, participate in the Citizen Committees and Strategic Committees of Participatory Research or Citizen Science Projects led by the NGO Objectif Sciences International or other pioneering organizations. Always make sure to seek information as far in advance as possible to be able to attend these conferences or meetings. In practice, as this logic advances, committee meetings in certain sectors naturally aim to involve non-scientists as well as scientists from other fields, allowing anyone in any role (researcher, local official, NGO facilitator, UN body employee, government member...) to access other practice models to test—and ultimately to innovate on these themselves.

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of Participatory Science Projects

In collaboration between Objectif Sciences International and Step and Go, this training is specifically dedicated to the techniques for creating and designing a Participatory Science project for Sustainable Development, as well as the techniques for leading and facilitating a Participatory Science project using a Project-Based Learning approach:

https://training-for-development.com/-Sciences-Participatives-Step-1-?lang=en

Choose the 3-day residential version or the 4-day non-residential option, in the Alps, Paris, Nice, New York... or request a date specifically dedicated for your team.

What forms of dissemination exist for scientific research results?

Thomas EGLI — 2024-04-15T09:44:00Z

Beyond the classic and essential publication of scientific articles in journals—a format that presents research results, as well as study limitations and methodological details within the state of the art reviewed by other members of the research community—there are several other ways to disseminate scientific research findings. Here are some of these forms, and feel free to add more by interacting on this page.

Also check out the training on the design and facilitation of a Participatory Science project

Sommaire

Oral Presentations at Conferences

Scientific Posters

Theses and Dissertations

Patent Filings

Industry Collaborations

Publications in Popular Magazines

Educational Materials Production

Public Lectures and Workshops

Creation of Software or Tools

International Collaborations

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of (...)

Oral Presentations at Conferences

Presenting research results at scientific conferences allows researchers to share discoveries with the scientific community, gather feedback, and encourage collaborations.

Scientific Posters

Posters are often used at conferences to visually present research findings, providing an opportunity to interact with other researchers and discuss the work in detail.

Theses and Dissertations

Research results can be included in doctoral theses, master's dissertations, or other academic works, thereby contributing to the training of new researchers.

Patent Filings

If the research has led to innovative discoveries with practical application potential, patent filing can be an option to protect intellectual property and create value by safeguarding its use and authorship. Just as non-scientists involved in participatory research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com may co-author scientific articles, they can also hold rights to a patent. An association, NGO, or foundation may hold and represent such patents to protect these individuals' rights, within the structure of a trust or similar entity.

Industry Collaborations

Collaborating with companies can facilitate the transfer of research results into concrete industrial applications.

Publications in Popular Magazines

Adapting research findings for a broader audience by publishing in magazines, scientific blogs, or other popular media helps raise public awareness and share knowledge.

Educational Materials Production

Research results can be used to develop educational materials, online courses, manuals, etc., contributing to education and training for those impacted by the research (such as finance professionals, farmers, parents, depending on the field of study).

Public Lectures and Workshops

Organizing public lectures, workshops, or seminars enables researchers to share their findings with a broader audience, including non-specialists.

Creation of Software or Tools

If research led to the development of software, tools, or applications, making these products available can serve as a form of dissemination.

International Collaborations

Collaborating with researchers from other countries can help disseminate results on an international scale and enhance visibility.

These various forms of dissemination help maximize research impact by making it accessible to diverse audiences and promoting its application in a range of contexts.

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of Participatory Science Projects

In collaboration between Objectif Sciences International and Step and Go, this training is specifically dedicated to the techniques for creating and designing a Participatory Science project for Sustainable Development, as well as the techniques for leading and facilitating a Participatory Science project using a Project-Based Learning approach:

https://training-for-development.com/-Sciences-Participatives-Step-1-?lang=en

Choose the 3-day residential version or the 4-day non-residential option, in the Alps, Paris, Nice, New York... or request a date specifically dedicated for your team.

What milestones help structure a Participatory Research project?

Thomas EGLI — 2023-11-10T13:32:46Z

[!glossary]
In the realm of Science and research projects connected with society, there are many levels of citizen involvement, regardless of age. This can gradually increase from scientific outreach to science mediation, followed by citizen science, crowdsourcing, and even up to the involvement level of participatory science. Beyond this, citizens can be fully involved in all stages of research, reaching the level of Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com . (For more on this topic, see the article Distinguishing truly Participatory Research from Research that involves non-scientists without genuine participation).

Also check out the training on the design and facilitation of a Participatory Science project

In the specific case of a Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com project, non-scientists' involvement levels cannot be partial.

On this page, we find several milestones to help define and outline a Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com project.

Favor a newly defined research project designed natively in a participatory format, rather than trying to make an existing project participatory. Of course, a new project can be defined within the scope of ongoing research.
Establish a solid State of the Art. If necessary, consider separating a very broad multidisciplinary project into several thematic projects, each led specifically, to simplify project understanding and improve acceptance by the relevant disciplinary community. In any case, for a project to be viable, it must be within the scope of the scientific disciplines mastered by the involved research partners, even if this requires scaling down the scope or bringing in an additional research partner.
Limit the research project to existing possibilities. Expanding to other possibilities is part of a developmental phase prior to the research project itself.
Always prioritize using common terms when they exist, rather than technical terms. Avoid jargon whenever possible.
Demonstrate a genuine co-construction approach to the Research. When presenting the partnership stakeholders, present the research and civil society organizations at the same level and in a similar format.
Specify the exact details of the non-scientific participants who are engaged as participant-researchers. Always delve deeply into different layers of society, not limiting involvement to group representatives but actively recruiting individual citizens. Clearly differentiate the composition of the General Public from the participating public.
Involved citizens do not necessarily have to be the final beneficiaries of the research.
Impact Participatory Research: For instance, when a citizen-researcher should avoid being an involved observer to maintain an independent research role and reduce potential biases, or when observing individuals (anthropology, psychology) or when the research concerns a site (national park, marine area, mountains) visited by citizens from elsewhere (other parts of the country, foreign volunteers), these are examples where the citizen-researcher may not be directly impacted by the research or the immediate beneficiary of results (Extra Community Based Research) but is engaged in an impact-focused project (Good Deed – Impact Participatory Research Project).
Community-Based Participatory Research: On the other hand, if the citizen-researcher conducts research on issues that affect them or benefits them or their community, this Participatory Research is considered community-focused (Community-Based Research – Community-Based Learning).
Do not confuse the participatory dimension with outreach. For example, the dissemination and promotion of data from the research is not directed at the participating public since they are already co-authors of this data. In this example, participants in a participatory setting are therefore co-authors of dissemination and promotion, which is aimed at an even broader audience.
Distribute tasks equitably between the Research Organization and the Civil Society Organization so that the project is balanced, complementary, and mutually beneficial (i.e., without additional effort required from each side to contribute to defining and conducting research and engaging citizens).
List the various steps in the Research process (deliverables, work packages) and specify the role of involved non-scientists and how they are involved at each step. A good approach is to separate the designation of the deliverable, the role of non-scientists, and the role of scientists.
Include University stakeholders (doctoral students) to introduce research findings to the broader scientific community beyond the project itself / also connect non-scientists with the University in addition to connecting them with Research.
Funding cannot exclusively fund the research organization; otherwise, the project is clearly not Participatory. Achieving 50% funding for civil society organizations is a prerequisite for a truly Participatory Research project, with the requirement to verify that non-scientists are genuinely involved at every stage of the research and in what manner (see above).
Data production and dissemination must meet both pure research standards and outreach frameworks, covering both Research and Participation fields.
The budget should be coherent and detailed. Organizing it around participatory activities and including research-related elements is often the most effective approach.
A Training on the Design and Facilitation of Participatory Science Projects

In collaboration between Objectif Sciences International and Step and Go, this training is specifically dedicated to the techniques for creating and designing a Participatory Science project for Sustainable Development, as well as the techniques for leading and facilitating a Participatory Science project using a Project-Based Learning approach:

https://training-for-development.com/-Sciences-Participatives-Step-1-?lang=en

Choose the 3-day residential version or the 4-day non-residential option, in the Alps, Paris, Nice, New York... or request a date specifically dedicated for your team.

Creation and management of fundamental Research specific to an NGO or nonprofit Association

Thomas EGLI — 2023-11-01T18:11:02Z

Since launching its first Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com project in 1992 (monitoring water quality in Lake Geneva, France-Switzerland) with young people aged 15 to 18, the NGO Objectif Sciences International has developed Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com Programs initiated both by the NGO itself and by public Research Laboratories or Centers.

For example, in 2006, a Participatory Research project was launched to monitor and protect the Snow Leopard population in Central Asia, based on a decision by the NGO's founder, Mr. Thomas EGLI, in 2004. In this project, the NGO connected with scientific institutions that subsequently joined the project initiated by the NGO. Multiple projects (Applied Biodiversity, Fundamental Biodiversity, Fundamental Physics, Applied Electronics, Astronomy, Archaeology, etc.) have been launched by the NGO independently, after which it established valuable partnerships with interested Research Centers for collaboration with OSI as a non-governmental scientific institution.

Conversely, numerous projects have also taken shape as part of an NGO Participatory Research Program based on existing scientific research within a research institution, which proposed that the NGO extend their initiative through a participatory citizen approach. These projects emerged either from a proposal by the NGO to the Research Center or from an invitation from the Research Center or scientific association to Objectif Sciences International.

Also check out the training on the design and facilitation of a Participatory Science project

Sommaire

Participatory Research as a Tool

Legitimacy of an NGO to Decide on and Conduct (...)

Stakeholders, Professions, and Decision-Makers to

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of (...)

We will rightly recall here that a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) exists when it takes on a mission to carry out a project typically considered a public service provided by the Government. There are several types of NGOs. Among those with an institutional role, an operational role, or both, there are activist stances, partnership stances, and a range of approaches that combine these two perspectives in various ways.

This article focuses on the methodology that enables a nonprofit association or NGO to independently decide on conducting Fundamental Research, Applied Research, or an Engineering Project, making such a decision legitimate.

We hope to address the increasing number of requests we receive from Governments, Permanent Missions to the UN or UNESCO, and other associations and NGOs, all eager to advance Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com projects.

Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com as a Tool

Participatory Research as a tool enabling nonprofit associations or NGOs to conduct original, fundamental research independently of government or corporate influence, or in partnership with States eager to address new priorities.

Participatory research is a research approach that actively involves community members or stakeholders in the research process. This method allows nonprofit associations to conduct original, fundamental research independently of governments or corporations in several ways.

Stakeholder Involvement: Participatory research enables the direct involvement of community members, beneficiaries, local experts, and other stakeholders in defining research questions, data collection, and result analysis. This ensures that research is relevant, tailored to community needs, and reflective of local concerns.

Access to Local Knowledge: Nonprofit associations that adopt a participatory research approach have access to local knowledge, practical expertise, and community wisdom, not only as information sources willing to share but also as direct participants in the project's design. This approach can yield valuable insights that might be overlooked by other research actors. While it's not meant to replace traditional research forms, participatory research complements them, expanding the range of discoveries and methods.

Accountability and Transparency: Participatory research promotes transparency and accountability in the research process. Community members can follow and participate in the process, which builds trust in the research results.

Independence: Nonprofit associations are often free from government influence and commercial motivations, allowing them greater freedom to conduct fundamental research without conflicts of interest. Deciding on their own to conduct Fundamental or Applied Research, or an Engineering project, enables them to fulfill their core mission.

Research Capabilities: Some nonprofit associations develop their own research capacities by training staff, recruiting qualified researchers, or partnering with academic researchers, allowing them to carry out high-quality research independently.

Diverse Funding Sources: NPOs (Non-Profit Organizations) can mobilize funds from various sources, including grants, private donations, philanthropic foundations, or direct support from citizens eager to contribute financially to ensure the project's progress and their own involvement, thus overcoming the organization's limited resources without reliance on government or corporate funding.

Promotion of Empowerment: Participatory research often aims to build the capacity of local communities to actively participate in research, understand results, and use them to make positive changes in their lives, promoting autonomy and empowerment among stakeholders.

It is important to note that participatory research requires careful planning, open communication, and fair knowledge-sharing mechanisms. It may be slower and demand more resources than other research approaches, yet it can yield more relevant and lasting results for communities and nonprofit organizations that adopt it.

Legitimacy of an NGO to Decide on and Conduct Research

Why and how can a nonprofit association or NGO decide to undertake fundamental research on its own, carrying it out without seeking authorization or legitimacy from any other entity? In other words, what about Citizen Research?

Nonprofit associations (NPOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can conduct fundamental research without needing permission or legitimacy from other entities for several reasons. Here's why and how they can do so.

Autonomy: NPOs and NGOs are independent entities, separate from government and private business. They often have a specific mission to serve the public interest, which may include fundamental research in areas related to their mission.

Nonprofit Status: These organizations' nonprofit status often exempts them from certain commercial and tax regulations. This allows them to carry out research activities without the goal of making financial profit, with the potential to mobilize greater resources (no taxes) in exchange for addressing orphaned public service or traditional business areas.

Freedom of Expression and Association: In many countries, NPOs and NGOs have the right to engage in research activities under freedom of expression and association laws. This gives them the freedom to initiate research projects without excessive state interference. It would be unfortunate for citizens to limit their own scope of action by believing they are not legitimate in deciding and carrying out such projects. This article aims to provide you with organizational tools to counter such limitations.

Specific Objectives and Missions: NPOs and NGOs are often created to address social or environmental problems, with fundamental or applied research and engineering projects as means to achieve these goals. Therefore, they typically have the legitimacy to undertake research related to their mission.

Funding: These organizations can raise funds from private donors, philanthropic foundations, government grants, or other sources to finance their research activities. This provides them with a degree of control over their own research projects.

While NPOs and NGOs have a degree of autonomy to conduct fundamental research, they must still comply with applicable laws and regulations in their countries. For instance, they must follow data protection laws, research ethics guidelines, human rights regulations, and so forth. They may also be subject to oversight and accountability obligations to their donors and beneficiaries.

In the end, an NPO's or NGO's ability to conduct fundamental research will depend on its mandate, resources, internal expertise, and commitment to transparency and ethics in its research activities.

This raises the question of necessary competencies.

Stakeholders, Professions, and Decision-Makers to Involve

What stakeholders, professions, and decision-makers need to come together to decide on conducting fundamental research and guide its implementation?

Over the years, as Objectif Sciences International has developed Research Programs using the Participatory Research format pioneered within the team in 1992, numerous practices have been refined.

The decision to conduct fundamental research and how it should be carried out depends on the specific context of the organization or entity undertaking the research. However, here is a general list of stakeholders, professions, and decision-makers who could be involved in the decision-making and management of a fundamental research project.

Board of Directors or Executive Committee: The Board or Executive Committee of a nonprofit organization (NPO) or NGO may play a key role in deciding to conduct participatory research. They may approve the budget, strategic directions, and provide overall oversight.

Executive or General Management: The organization's leadership is often responsible for its day-to-day management, including overseeing research activities. They may play a central role in deciding to initiate research and selecting the team to coordinate the Research or Engineering Program.

Research Director: The organization may have a Research Director responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing research projects. This person may have a background in research and project management, and could be an employee, consultant, volunteer, or even a professional researcher paired with a citizen-researcher.

Research Team: Researchers and experts who will facilitate the fundamental or applied research conducted by non-scientists are central to the process. Positioned as mentors and educator-researchers to apprentice-researchers (participating citizens), they must have expertise in the specific research field. They will oversee data collection and analysis but must also design research projects that are realistic for full participation, taking into account educational and ergonomic considerations.

Advisory Committee, Strategic Committee, Citizen Committee: To ensure the objectivity, accuracy, and quality of the research, some organizations may establish an advisory committee made up of external experts to supervise the project, provide guidance, and review results.

Financial Managers: Those in charge of financial management, including the financial director and treasurer, will play a key role in budget allocation for fundamental research. Just as education—vital to development and problem-solving—often receives insufficient investment from individuals for their future, solution-oriented research remains underfunded relative to its potential for resolving issues. Participatory Research format proves advantageous for funding as many individuals want to fund serious research in which they can directly participate, engaging in the scientific journey that unfolds before them.

External Partners: In some cases, NPOs and NGOs may collaborate with external partners, such as other research organizations, universities, businesses, and governments. These partners can influence research decisions and contribute additional resources.

Funding Bodies: If the organization relies on external funding, funders may also play a role in deciding to undertake specific research. They may set research priorities or quality requirements in exchange for larger funding. While the association maintains its independence, quality requirements for increased funding allow them to scale productivity to levels comparable to Governments or Public Research Centers.

Stakeholders: Stakeholders, including organization members, program beneficiaries, local communities, or other concerned groups, may have input in selecting research areas or specific research questions. This depends on the association's or NGO's willingness to involve them in the Research Program's conduct and practice.

Ultimately, the composition of stakeholders involved in deciding and managing fundamental or applied participatory research may vary significantly depending on the organization's size, structure, and mission, as well as applicable ethical and governance standards. Considering all these factors is essential to ensure transparency, integrity, and objectivity throughout the research process.

A Training on the Design and Facilitation of Participatory Science Projects

In collaboration between Objectif Sciences International and Step and Go, this training is specifically dedicated to the techniques for creating and designing a Participatory Science project for Sustainable Development, as well as the techniques for leading and facilitating a Participatory Science project using a Project-Based Learning approach:

https://training-for-development.com/-Sciences-Participatives-Step-1-?lang=en

Choose the 3-day residential version or the 4-day non-residential option, in the Alps, Paris, Nice, New York... or request a date specifically dedicated for your team.

	Citizen Science	Participatory Science	Participatory Research with Impact	Community-Based Participatory Research
General Format	Contributions of non-scientific citizens to data collection or processing	Non-scientists participating in several stages, including experiments	Non-scientists involved in all stages of research not directly related to their personal interests	Involves individuals in research addressing issues specific to their community
History	Emerged with the rise of technology and the Internet, facilitating citizen participation	Evolution of citizen science towards broader participant engagement	More recent form focusing on varied scientific issues	Originates from social justice movements and local initiatives
Drivers	Citizens and scientists, with strong scientist initiative	Collaboration between scientists and non-scientists	Researchers, educators, NGOs, and diverse publics	Local communities, associations, and researchers
Goals	Large-scale data collection, enhancing scientific knowledge	Citizen engagement in research, increasing scientific transparency	Advancing knowledge in strategic areas not directly connected to participants	Solving community-specific problems, enhancing self-determination
Common Fields	Astronomy, environment, biodiversity	Biology, ecology, social sciences	Energy, environment, sustainable development	Public health, local development, sociology
Examples	Galaxy Zoo, eBird...	Local wildlife observations, collaborative social studies	Projects on climate change impacts, medical research	Participatory action research on health issues, community agriculture

<-	Scientific Outreach (CCSTI)				->
-	<-		Science Education		->
-	-	<-		Citizen Science		->
-	-	-		<-	Participatory Science	->
-	-	-	-			Participatory Research Participatory Research see : http://www.voyages-scientifiques.com