Launched in 2014, the Pioneer Valley Citizen Science (PVCS) Collaboratory was an innovative partnership between the Encore Lab at the University of Toronto, Hampshire College, and the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. The initiative addressed a long-standing challenge in the field of citizen science: how to move participants beyond the role of data collectors toward becoming active contributors to knowledge creation and problem-solving in socioecological contexts.
The PVCS platform functioned as a digital hub where citizen scientists could learn about pressing environmental issues, register as members, and participate in locally relevant projects. Framed around four core themes (i.e. climate change, biodiversity, habitat loss, and invasive species), the platform contextualized data collection within broader environmental concerns. Seasonal projects such as Salamander Watch, Neighborhood NestWatch, Leaf Drop, Firefly Watch, and Monarch Watch invited participants to collect data while also linking their contributions to larger scientific and community narratives. Importantly, data remained accessible after project completion, enabling ongoing exploration, analysis, and learning.
As a member of the Encore Lab research team, my role focused on translating theories of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) into the UX/UI design of four PVCS applications. Working closely with researchers and developers, I co-designed tablet apps that integrated CSCL practices into the flow of data collection. Features such as real-time data tracking, geospatial mapping, embedded collaboration tools, and social sharing mechanisms enabled participants not only to contribute information but also to engage with one another’s findings. These designs helped lower barriers to entry, fostered collaboration across time and space, and connected individual observations to collective insights.
Through PVCS, I gained deep experience in designing digital tools that integrate learning theory with scientific practice. I learned how to create structures that foster collaboration, make scientific practices more transparent, and empower non-specialists to contribute meaningfully to ecological research. The project also reinforced the importance of contextual framing: by linking data collection to issues such as biodiversity and climate change, participants were more likely to see their contributions as purposeful and connected to real-world challenges.
More broadly, PVCS helped establish a research foundation for how citizen science platforms can be intentionally designed to support not only data collection but also learning, reflection, and public engagement. The project demonstrated that thoughtfully designed technologies can transform citizen science into a practice that builds both scientific knowledge and civic capacity for addressing environmental issues.
Alisa Acosta 