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Reflections on the potential of virtual citizen science platforms to address collective action challenges: Lessons and implications for future research

Leeuwis, Cees; Cieslik, K.J.; Aarts, M.N.C.; Dewulf, A.R.P.J.; Ludwig, F.; Werners, S.E.; Struik, P.C.

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Authors

Cees Leeuwis

M.N.C. Aarts

A.R.P.J. Dewulf

F. Ludwig

S.E. Werners

P.C. Struik



Abstract

Rural communities in Africa are facing numerous challenges related to human health, agricultural production, water scarcity and service delivery. Addressing such challenges requires effective collective action and coordination among stakeholders, which often prove difficult to achieve. Against the background of the increased availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs), this article synthesizes the lessons from six case-studies reported in this Special Issue. The cases investigate the possible role of digital citizen science platforms (labelled EVOCAs: Environmental Virtual Observatories for Connective Action) in overcoming the challenges of integrating heterogeneous actors in collective management of common resources and/or the provision of public goods. Inspired by the seminal work of Elinor Ostrom, our expectation was that such platforms could help operationalize communication and information-related design principles and community conditions that are known to enhance the capacity to address environmental challenges.

Citation

Leeuwis, C., Cieslik, K., Aarts, M., Dewulf, A., Ludwig, F., Werners, S., & Struik, P. (2018). Reflections on the potential of virtual citizen science platforms to address collective action challenges: Lessons and implications for future research. NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 146-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.008

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 31, 2018
Online Publication Date Aug 31, 2018
Publication Date 2018
Deposit Date Mar 16, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences
Print ISSN 1573-5214
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 86-87
Issue 1
Pages 146-157
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.008

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Copyright Statement
© 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Royal Netherlands Society for Agricultural Sciences.




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