The Project of Community Science: Public Monitoring of the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Ecological Disaster

The article discusses the strategies and research methods used within the community science paradigm developed by the Public Lab group. The workshops and practices of scientific cooperation with local communities are discussed on the example of the Public Lab’s founding project – monitoring the effects of an ecological disaster related to the oil spill from BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil platform into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The methods used to conduct the research were based on the local community’s involvement and led to the establishment of new models to disseminate data and scientific knowledge in which local participants play a crucial role and have access to essential measurement data. The article discusses the DIY method’s applications, the technique of experimental cartography and mapping performed using meteorological balloons and kites. The community research methods are juxtaposed with the contemporary contexts of the evolving blue turn in the humanities, social sciences, and media practices.

* Artykuł powstał w wyniku realizacji projektu badawczego „Sztuka jako laboratorium nowego społeczeństwa. Kulturowe konsekwencje przełomu post-technologicznego” (kierownik: A. Jelewska) nr 2014/13/B/HS2/00508 finansowanego ze środków Narodowego Centrum Nauki.

The article discusses the strategies and research methods used within the community science paradigm developed by the Public Lab group. The workshops and practices of scientific cooperation with local communities are discussed on the example of the Public Lab’s founding project – monitoring the effects of an ecological disaster related to the oil spill from BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil platform into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The methods used to conduct the research were based on the local community’s involvement and led to the establishment of new models to disseminate data and scientific knowledge in which local participants play a crucial role and have access to essential measurement data. The article discusses the DIY method’s applications, the technique of experimental cartography and mapping performed using meteorological balloons and kites. The community research methods are juxtaposed with the contemporary contexts of the evolving blue turn in the humanities, social sciences, and media practices.

* Artykuł powstał w wyniku realizacji projektu badawczego „Sztuka jako laboratorium nowego społeczeństwa. Kulturowe konsekwencje przełomu post-technologicznego” (kierownik: A. Jelewska) nr 2014/13/B/HS2/00508 finansowanego ze środków Narodowego Centrum Nauki.