Embedding Citizen Science in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums to Address Urban Sustainability Challenges: a Cross-Case Analysis in Four European Cities.

Abstract

Herein, we examine the interaction between galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAMs) and citizen science (CS) through the empirical analysis of five pilots addressing urban sustainability challenges. In Barcelona, a university partnered with a public library to assess heat exposure in public spaces. In Delft, children’s perceptions of urban spaces were collected and discussed through a collaboration between a university and a public library. In Tallinn, a community museum supported the testing of a digital visualization tool to enhance citizens’ feedback in urban planning. In Vienna, an urban research institute and an academic library co-designed two pilots addressing urban heat and the transformation of public spaces. Findings draw on GLAMs’ distinct contributions, the structural organization of the pilots, and the perceptions of librarians and researchers, gathered through surveys, interviews, and collective writing processes. A strong community-oriented focus and the engagement of underrepresented groups were common features across all pilots, though organizational structures and actor typologies varied by city. GLAMs consistently functioned as powerful connectors between researchers, citizens, and local stakeholders. Embedding CS initiatives within GLAM social and community-oriented venues can help mitigate power imbalances and foster more horizontal, mutual learning between academics and GLAM staff. GLAMs can also provide the crucial social infrastructure to significantly embed sustainability-focused CS initiatives across diverse knowledge ecosystems, countries, and urban contexts.