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Transparency and secrecy in citizen science: Lessons from herping.
1Department of Politics and Philosophy, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3165, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
|May 10, 2021
Summary
Citizen science can sometimes lead to harmful transparency. This study argues for the value of secrecy in citizen science, particularly within the herping community, to protect knowledge systems.
Area of Science:
- Citizen Science
- Philosophy of Science
- Community Ecology
Background:
- Citizen science initiatives often prioritize transparency, potentially overlooking the benefits of knowledge protection.
- The practice of herping (searching for reptiles and amphibians) serves as a case study for analyzing community-based knowledge systems.
- Existing philosophical work on transparency and secrecy in science offers a foundation for this analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential harms of excessive transparency in citizen science.
- To advocate for the value of secrecy in specific citizen science contexts.
- To analyze the ethical considerations surrounding knowledge transmission and protection within citizen science communities.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of the herping community's practices and knowledge-sharing systems.
- Comparative study of citizen science platforms, focusing on iNaturalist and others.
- Examination of the author's personal experiences within citizen science.
Main Results:
- Herping communities possess sophisticated communal systems for knowledge transmission and protection.
- These knowledge systems are intrinsically linked to ethical considerations of secrecy.
- The drive for transparency in citizen science may not always align with the needs of specific communities.
Conclusions:
- Transparency in citizen science should be approached with caution, requiring careful consideration of its implications.
- Secrecy can play a vital role in protecting valuable knowledge within citizen science practices.
- The concepts of transparency and secrecy warrant deeper philosophical scrutiny in the context of citizen science.
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