Changing for the better: starting to explore citizen science and the development of community resilience

This paper explores the transformative potential of citizen science (CS) in building community resilience during natural and technological disasters. Citizen science involves the engagement of non-professional scientists in scientific endeavors, providing invaluable contributions in data collection, enhancing community awareness, and building local capacities. The cooperative relationships fostered between citizens, academics, and governments are critical for creating informed, localized policies that resonate with community needs and foster resilience. This paper elaborates on the theoretical underpinnings, methodologies, and empirical findings of an initial study, offering first insights into how CS can be systematically integrated into resilience strategies.