At the end of 2018 an international open call was made to allow all interested parties in the Citizen Science community to join a Task and Finish Global Group (TFGG) aimed at developing a proposal for implementing a new status for the GCSP, including options for incorporation, a new governance structure, principles and goals. Why?
As of March 2021, the GCSP still does not exist in a legal form that will allow it to enhance collaboration and increase the visibility and recognition of citizen science and of the contribution citizens can make to the delivery of the SDGs (for example sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with international organisations or gain formal consultative status with the UN). The legal form that the GCSP takes is critical to its future relationship with these global bodies and drives the governance structure of the GCSP.
The group has met several times and has advanced on many fronts. It is time now to consult again with the community and hear your voice on the “Articles of Association", which include principles, values, aims, and objectives of GCSP, but also more practical topics such as membership. We would like this final phase to be as open, inclusive and transparent as possible.
Background info: We have drawn together key elements from the core documents of the different Citizen Science Associations and extracted key ideas that align with the ideal approach from the UNESCO 1st Draft of their Recommendation on Open Science (2020). GCSP has a very different role to the national Associations, so although we start from a similar principles and values, our roles, aims and objectives need to be clearly different. The aim is to both align with and support the Associations and also add the extra dimensions needed by our global working and networks.
Requirements: the statements need to be clear, simple and not time-bound (as we expect GCSP to have a very long life).
Our ask: please help us cover all that is necessary to describe fully the principles and approach of GCSP.
Please express your interest and commitment to join the elaboration effort express by filling this form by 16 May 2021.
We will get back to interested people immediatly after to share the working document.
