Failures of Engagement: Lessons Learned from a Citizen Science Pilot Study

Citizen science is growing in popularity, but little research addresses participant learning outcomes. We describe the Chicago Area Pollinator Study (CAPS), which relied on citizen scientists to gather information about urban bee diversity and abundance. Based on pre- and post-CAPS participant surveys, we determined that citizen scientists collected an impressive amount of data and enjoyed the experience but did not achieve the educational goals we hoped for. We detail our failure to effectively engage citizen scientists in the learning process, and we make specific recommendations for creating the types of dynamic and mutually successful projects that scientists and citizens deserve.