Supporting Research Intermediations: A Necessity for Sustainable Transitions

By Évelyne F. Lhoste, Geneviève Fontaine, Sandrine Fournie, Juliette Peres, Loup Sardin
No 74, 2024/2, pages 99 to 130
English

We present here the first in-depth analysis of the role of associations in citizen science. Institutions often limit associations either as “volunteer providers” in crowdsourcing or as “citizen providers” in co-creation. Based on the study of 32 associations funded for their research and innovation activities for sustainable development, we have identified two categories of associations depending on whether they are involved in social innovation or natural sciences. In addition, we have observed that all these associations fulfil three essential functions in participatory research, functions that the literature on transitions has called “intermediation”. These functions are not only aimed at the production of knowledge and actionable knowledge. They also aim to influence the dominant system for transitions through networks and infrastructures. Finally, we insist on the need to legitimize associations for their crucial role in citizen science beyond projects.
JEL Codes: D83, O38