Ms Lucy Robinson

Ms Lucy Robinson

Citizen Science Manager

Department: Life Sciences
Division: LS Angela Marmont Centre

Summary

I lead the Museum's Citizen Science Programme - a suite of research projects where Museum scientists collaborate with members of the public to address pressing scientific questions.

Citizen science is the involvement of volunteers in scientific projects that contribute to expanding our knowledge of the natural world, through the systematic collection, analysis or interpretation of environmental observations. Anyone can take part in our citizen science projects and there are a wide variety to suit any interest, from collecting samples of microorganisms for DNA analysis to reporting stranded whales and dolphins or recording observations of bluebells, orchids, seaweeds or invertebrates. You can find out more about our projects in the Take Part section of the website.

I lead a team based in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity who deliver an innovative programme of citizen science projects, and work with our researchers, curators and public engagement staff to develop exciting new projects that support the Museum's scientific research. A key element of the Citizen Science Programme is to support other citizen science practitioners to develop their own projects. To this end I produce knowledge exchange guides and publications to support others in the field of citizen science, and I represent the Museum at national and international citizen science conferences.

Understanding the impact of participating in citizen science, for all involved, is a key element of our programme. I lead an international research collaboration between educational researchers and citizen science practitioners, called LEARN CitSci (the Learning and Environmental Science Agency research network for Citizen Science). This partnership studies the learning processes and development of roles and agency in science for young people (aged 5-19 years) who take part in our projects.

I served as Vice Executive Chair of the European Citizen Science Association from 2018-19, leading a Europe-wide network devoted to supporting the growth of the citizen science movement across Europe. I also represented the UK on the management Committee of the European Commission COST Action CA15212: Citizen science to promote creativity, scientific literacy and innovation throughout Europe from 2016-20, and am also a member of the British Ecological Society Special Interest Group for citizen science, and the global Citizen Science Association.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • BSc Zoology (hons), University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • MSc Biodiversity and Conservation, University of Leeds, United Kingdom

Employment history

    Non-academic

    OPAL Project Officer, Natural History Museum, UK Biodiversity, 2008 - 2013

    Assistant Curator of Natural History, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, 2004 - 2006

Grants

EU Citizen Science–The Platform for Sharing, Initiating and Learning Citizen Science in Europe
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: H2020 Science with and for Society
Total value £1,599,903 (to Museum £53,000)
Dates: 2019 - 2024

Science Learning +: Examining learning processes through the integration of two informal science learning approaches: Natural History Museum-led citizen science.
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: Wellcome Trust
Total value £684,032 (to Museum £519,507)
Dates: 2017 - 2021

Delivery phase - Identification Trainers for the Future
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Funding: HLF - Heritage Lottery Funds
Total value £463,700 (to Museum £463,700)
Dates: 2014 - 2018

Development phase - Identification Trainers for the Future
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Funding: HLF - Heritage Lottery Funds
Total value £36,473.94 (to Museum £16,800)
Dates: 2013 - 2014

Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL)
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: Big Lottery Fund
Total value £11,760,783 (to Museum £3,500,000)
Dates: 2007 - 2013

Committees

Vice chair, European Citizen Science Association, 2018 - on going.

Member, Citizen Science COST Action Management Committee: CA15212: to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe, 2016 - on going.

Member, European Citizen Science Association Steering Committee, 2014 - on going.

Chair, Working group for 'Sharing best practice and building capacity for citizen science' within the European Citizen Science Association, 2013 - on going.

Publications

Lorke J, Ballard HL, Miller AE, Swanson RD, Pratt-Taweh S, Jennewein JN, Higgins L, Johnson RF, Young AN, Ghadiri Khanaposhtani M, Robinson LD (2021) Step by step towards citizen science — deconstructing youth participation in BioBlitzes. Journal of Science Communication, 20 (04) : A03 - A03. doi: 10.22323/2.20040203

Herodotou C, Aristeidou M, Miller G, Ballard H, Robinson L (2020) What Do We Know about Young Volunteers? An Exploratory Study of Participation in Zooniverse. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 5 (1) : doi: 10.5334/cstp.248

Robinson L (2020) Project Planning and Design, In: Handbook of Citizen Science in Ecology and Conservation, vargo T, boyle O, Lepczyk C (Eds). University of California Press : 33 - 50.

Robinson LD, Cawthray JL, West SE, Bonn A, Ansine J (2018) Ten principles of citizen science, In: Citizen Science, UCL Press : 27 - 40.

Hecker S, Bonney R, Haklay M, Hölker F, Hofer H, Goebel C, Gold M, Makuch Z, Ponti M, Richter A, Robinson L, Iglesias JR, Owen R, Peltola T, Sforzi A, Shirk J, Vogel J, Vohland K, Witt T, Bonn A (null) Innovation in Citizen Science – Perspectives on Science-Policy Advances. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 3 (1) : 4 - 4. doi: 10.5334/cstp.114

Pocock MJO, Tweddle JC, Savage J, Robinson LD, Roy HE (null) The diversity and evolution of ecological and environmental citizen science. PLOS ONE, 12 (4) : e0172579 - e0172579. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172579

Ballard HL, Robinson LD, Young AN, Pauly GB, Higgins LM, Johnson RF, Tweddle JC (2017) Contributions to conservation outcomes by natural history museum-led citizen science: Examining evidence and next steps. Biological Conservation, 208 : 87 - 97. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.040

Robinson LD, Cawthray JL, Lee D, Tweddle J (2016) Citizen science: authentic science research at the natural history museum, In: Museum participation: new directions for audience collaboration, McSweeney K, Kavanagh J (Eds). Museums Etc :

Robinson L (2015, 1 9) Robinson, L.D. and members of the ‘Sharing best practice and building capacity for citizen science’ working group within the European Citizen Science Association. (2015) Ten Principles of Citizen Science. European Citizen Science Association.. European Citizen Science Association :

Robinson L, Sharing best practice and building capacity for citizen science working group within the European Citizen Science Association. (2015, 1 9) Ten Principles of Citizen Science. European Citizen Science Association

Bates AJ, Lakeman Fraser P, Robinson L, Tweddle JC, Sadler JP, West SE, Norman S, Batson M, Davies L (2015) The OPAL bugs count survey: exploring the effects of urbanisation and habitat characteristics using citizen science. Urban Ecosystems, 18 (4) : 1477 - 1497. doi: 10.1007/s11252-015-0470-8

Robinson L, Castillo K (2015) Orchid Observers Identification Guide. Natural History Museum :

ROBINSON LD, TWEDDLE JC (2013) OPAL Community Environment Report: exploring nature together. ISBN: 978-0-9574377-0-8. null :

ROBINSON LD, TWEDDLE JC, POSTLES MC, WEST SE, SEWELL J (2013) Guide to running a BioBlitz 2.0. Natural History Museum, Bristol Natural History Consortium, University of York and Marine Biological Association :

ROBINSON L (2012) News Updates from OPAL. National Federation for Biological Recording Newsletter 44, August 2012. :

ROBINSON L (2012) Big Nature Day.. Natural History Museum : London.

ROBINSON L, URRY D (2012) OPAL Grants Scheme 2012 – Successful Applicants. NBN eNews, November 2012. :

ROBINSON L, URRY D (2012) OPAL Grants Scheme. NBN eNews, August 2012. :

ROY HE, POCOCK MJO, PRESTON CD, ROY DB, SAVAGE J, TWEDDLE JC, ROBINSON LD (2012) Understanding citizen science and environmental monitoring. : NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

TWEDDLE J, ROBINSON L (2012) Major review of citizen science leads to new practical guide. NBN eNews, December 2012.

TWEDDLE JC, ROBINSON LD, Pocock MJ, Roy HE (2012) Guide to citizen science: developing, implementing and evaluating citizen science to study biodiversity and the environment in the UK. Natural History Museum and NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for UK-EOF :

Aristeidou M, Herodotou C, Ballard HL, Higgins L, Johnson RF, Miller AE, Young AN, Robinson LD (null) How Do Young Community and Citizen Science Volunteers Support Scientific Research on Biodiversity? The Case of iNaturalist. Diversity, 13 (7) : 318 - 318. doi: 10.3390/d13070318

Turbé A, Barba J, Pelacho M, Mugdal S, Robinson LD, Serrano-Sanz F, Sanz F, Tsinaraki C, Rubio J-M, Schade S (null) Understanding the Citizen Science Landscape for European Environmental Policy: An Assessment and Recommendations. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 4 (1) : 34 - 34. doi: 10.5334/cstp.239

Invited and keynote speaker

Does citizen science really contribute to nature conservation? Sharing evidence from natural history museums, Citzen Science Association Conference: Saint Paul, United States, 18/5/2017.

Blurring the boundaries between outdoor and online citizen science: lessons learned from the Orchid Observers project, Citizen Science Association Conference: Saint Paul, United States, 18/5/2017.

Does citizen science really contribute to nature conservation? Sharing evidence and best practice (conference session, co-lead), European Citizen Science Association Conference 2016. Citizen Science: Innovation in Open Science, Society and Policy: 20/5/2016.

Introduction

Summary

I lead the Museum's Citizen Science Programme - a suite of research projects where Museum scientists collaborate with members of the public to address pressing scientific questions.

Citizen science is the involvement of volunteers in scientific projects that contribute to expanding our knowledge of the natural world, through the systematic collection, analysis or interpretation of environmental observations. Anyone can take part in our citizen science projects and there are a wide variety to suit any interest, from collecting samples of microorganisms for DNA analysis to reporting stranded whales and dolphins or recording observations of bluebells, orchids, seaweeds or invertebrates. You can find out more about our projects in the Take Part section of the website.

I lead a team based in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity who deliver an innovative programme of citizen science projects, and work with our researchers, curators and public engagement staff to develop exciting new projects that support the Museum's scientific research. A key element of the Citizen Science Programme is to support other citizen science practitioners to develop their own projects. To this end I produce knowledge exchange guides and publications to support others in the field of citizen science, and I represent the Museum at national and international citizen science conferences.

Understanding the impact of participating in citizen science, for all involved, is a key element of our programme. I lead an international research collaboration between educational researchers and citizen science practitioners, called LEARN CitSci (the Learning and Environmental Science Agency research network for Citizen Science). This partnership studies the learning processes and development of roles and agency in science for young people (aged 5-19 years) who take part in our projects.

I served as Vice Executive Chair of the European Citizen Science Association from 2018-19, leading a Europe-wide network devoted to supporting the growth of the citizen science movement across Europe. I also represented the UK on the management Committee of the European Commission COST Action CA15212: Citizen science to promote creativity, scientific literacy and innovation throughout Europe from 2016-20, and am also a member of the British Ecological Society Special Interest Group for citizen science, and the global Citizen Science Association.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • BSc Zoology (hons), University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • MSc Biodiversity and Conservation, University of Leeds, United Kingdom

Employment history

    Non-academic

    OPAL Project Officer, Natural History Museum, UK Biodiversity, 2008 - 2013

    Assistant Curator of Natural History, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, 2004 - 2006

Projects

Grants

EU Citizen Science–The Platform for Sharing, Initiating and Learning Citizen Science in Europe
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: H2020 Science with and for Society
Total value £1,599,903 (to Museum £53,000)
Dates: 2019 - 2024

Science Learning +: Examining learning processes through the integration of two informal science learning approaches: Natural History Museum-led citizen science.
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: Wellcome Trust
Total value £684,032 (to Museum £519,507)
Dates: 2017 - 2021

Delivery phase - Identification Trainers for the Future
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Funding: HLF - Heritage Lottery Funds
Total value £463,700 (to Museum £463,700)
Dates: 2014 - 2018

Development phase - Identification Trainers for the Future
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Funding: HLF - Heritage Lottery Funds
Total value £36,473.94 (to Museum £16,800)
Dates: 2013 - 2014

Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL)
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: Big Lottery Fund
Total value £11,760,783 (to Museum £3,500,000)
Dates: 2007 - 2013

Professional activities

Committees

Vice chair, European Citizen Science Association, 2018 - on going.

Member, Citizen Science COST Action Management Committee: CA15212: to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe, 2016 - on going.

Member, European Citizen Science Association Steering Committee, 2014 - on going.

Chair, Working group for 'Sharing best practice and building capacity for citizen science' within the European Citizen Science Association, 2013 - on going.

Publications

Publications

Lorke J, Ballard HL, Miller AE, Swanson RD, Pratt-Taweh S, Jennewein JN, Higgins L, Johnson RF, Young AN, Ghadiri Khanaposhtani M, Robinson LD (2021) Step by step towards citizen science — deconstructing youth participation in BioBlitzes. Journal of Science Communication, 20 (04) : A03 - A03. doi: 10.22323/2.20040203

Herodotou C, Aristeidou M, Miller G, Ballard H, Robinson L (2020) What Do We Know about Young Volunteers? An Exploratory Study of Participation in Zooniverse. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 5 (1) : doi: 10.5334/cstp.248

Robinson L (2020) Project Planning and Design, In: Handbook of Citizen Science in Ecology and Conservation, vargo T, boyle O, Lepczyk C (Eds). University of California Press : 33 - 50.

Robinson LD, Cawthray JL, West SE, Bonn A, Ansine J (2018) Ten principles of citizen science, In: Citizen Science, UCL Press : 27 - 40.

Hecker S, Bonney R, Haklay M, Hölker F, Hofer H, Goebel C, Gold M, Makuch Z, Ponti M, Richter A, Robinson L, Iglesias JR, Owen R, Peltola T, Sforzi A, Shirk J, Vogel J, Vohland K, Witt T, Bonn A (null) Innovation in Citizen Science – Perspectives on Science-Policy Advances. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 3 (1) : 4 - 4. doi: 10.5334/cstp.114

Pocock MJO, Tweddle JC, Savage J, Robinson LD, Roy HE (null) The diversity and evolution of ecological and environmental citizen science. PLOS ONE, 12 (4) : e0172579 - e0172579. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172579

Ballard HL, Robinson LD, Young AN, Pauly GB, Higgins LM, Johnson RF, Tweddle JC (2017) Contributions to conservation outcomes by natural history museum-led citizen science: Examining evidence and next steps. Biological Conservation, 208 : 87 - 97. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.040

Robinson LD, Cawthray JL, Lee D, Tweddle J (2016) Citizen science: authentic science research at the natural history museum, In: Museum participation: new directions for audience collaboration, McSweeney K, Kavanagh J (Eds). Museums Etc :

Robinson L (2015, 1 9) Robinson, L.D. and members of the ‘Sharing best practice and building capacity for citizen science’ working group within the European Citizen Science Association. (2015) Ten Principles of Citizen Science. European Citizen Science Association.. European Citizen Science Association :

Robinson L, Sharing best practice and building capacity for citizen science working group within the European Citizen Science Association. (2015, 1 9) Ten Principles of Citizen Science. European Citizen Science Association

Bates AJ, Lakeman Fraser P, Robinson L, Tweddle JC, Sadler JP, West SE, Norman S, Batson M, Davies L (2015) The OPAL bugs count survey: exploring the effects of urbanisation and habitat characteristics using citizen science. Urban Ecosystems, 18 (4) : 1477 - 1497. doi: 10.1007/s11252-015-0470-8

Robinson L, Castillo K (2015) Orchid Observers Identification Guide. Natural History Museum :

ROBINSON LD, TWEDDLE JC (2013) OPAL Community Environment Report: exploring nature together. ISBN: 978-0-9574377-0-8. null :

ROBINSON LD, TWEDDLE JC, POSTLES MC, WEST SE, SEWELL J (2013) Guide to running a BioBlitz 2.0. Natural History Museum, Bristol Natural History Consortium, University of York and Marine Biological Association :

ROBINSON L (2012) News Updates from OPAL. National Federation for Biological Recording Newsletter 44, August 2012. :

ROBINSON L (2012) Big Nature Day.. Natural History Museum : London.

ROBINSON L, URRY D (2012) OPAL Grants Scheme 2012 – Successful Applicants. NBN eNews, November 2012. :

ROBINSON L, URRY D (2012) OPAL Grants Scheme. NBN eNews, August 2012. :

ROY HE, POCOCK MJO, PRESTON CD, ROY DB, SAVAGE J, TWEDDLE JC, ROBINSON LD (2012) Understanding citizen science and environmental monitoring. : NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

TWEDDLE J, ROBINSON L (2012) Major review of citizen science leads to new practical guide. NBN eNews, December 2012.

TWEDDLE JC, ROBINSON LD, Pocock MJ, Roy HE (2012) Guide to citizen science: developing, implementing and evaluating citizen science to study biodiversity and the environment in the UK. Natural History Museum and NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for UK-EOF :

Aristeidou M, Herodotou C, Ballard HL, Higgins L, Johnson RF, Miller AE, Young AN, Robinson LD (null) How Do Young Community and Citizen Science Volunteers Support Scientific Research on Biodiversity? The Case of iNaturalist. Diversity, 13 (7) : 318 - 318. doi: 10.3390/d13070318

Turbé A, Barba J, Pelacho M, Mugdal S, Robinson LD, Serrano-Sanz F, Sanz F, Tsinaraki C, Rubio J-M, Schade S (null) Understanding the Citizen Science Landscape for European Environmental Policy: An Assessment and Recommendations. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 4 (1) : 34 - 34. doi: 10.5334/cstp.239

Impact and outreach

Invited and keynote speaker

Does citizen science really contribute to nature conservation? Sharing evidence from natural history museums, Citzen Science Association Conference: Saint Paul, United States, 18/5/2017.

Blurring the boundaries between outdoor and online citizen science: lessons learned from the Orchid Observers project, Citizen Science Association Conference: Saint Paul, United States, 18/5/2017.

Does citizen science really contribute to nature conservation? Sharing evidence and best practice (conference session, co-lead), European Citizen Science Association Conference 2016. Citizen Science: Innovation in Open Science, Society and Policy: 20/5/2016.