Earthwatch Institute

By pairing volunteers from all sectors of society with researchers around the world, Earthwatch teams have helped to safeguard critical habitats, conserve biodiversity, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources.

The citizen science community is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of inclusive language and its impact on audiences and communities. By moving away from terms like "citizen" in favor of alternatives such as "collaborative science" or "participatory science," we aim to address the adverse connotations associated with citizenship, which can exclude people who are not legal citizens. This shift in language recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives and broad public participation, regardless of citizenship status. Please see the Citizen Science Association's resource "Coming to Terms" for more information.

When referring to our own work, Earthwatch prefers the terms "collaborative science" and "participatory science." As we transition to a more inclusive language, you may still encounter communications in which we refer to earlier work, the practitioner community, or the work of our peers as "citizen science."