Democratizing Science: An Investigation of the Innovative Process of Citizen Science with the Mixed Methods Approach

In contemporary society, scientific and technological disciplines are configured as interconnected domains with the everyday life of each individual. These disciplines shape social dynamics, habits, lifestyles, and work activities, exerting a particular influence on public opinion. This conjunction requires a closer interaction between the scientific community and the general population, proving decisive in ensuring an evolution of the relationship between science and society that adequately reflects current social needs and values (Leshner, 2003). In this context, Citizen Science emerges as a promising means of ensuring public involvement in various scientific disciplines, assuming a significant role in the formulation of public policies in a variety of fields. Citizen Science initiatives and practices are currently growing at the European, national and local levels (Vohland, 2021). Basing the analysis on these theoretical assumptions and adopting a Mixed Methods approach, the present research aims to explore the phenomenon of Citizen Science in Italy in order to understand the motivations that guide and sustain participation, as well as the contribution that the actors involved can make to the relationship/interaction between science and society. In addition, the research investigates the ways in which participants, whether expert scientists or citizen volunteers, interact with each other and how Citizen Science can be configured as a useful tool for progress in science communication and policy formulation.