“Citizen Science” and Research Process for Local Development

Abstract

This paper is part of the research project “Review and Synthesis of Methodology for Communitybased Research, Towards Universality.” The research fund was supported by Thailand Research Fund (TRF). The main objective of this paper was to analyze the instrument of “citizen science” that how it could be applied with local knowledge. It was practical or not, in what level. How it could help to enhance the knowledge of villagers in debating and bargaining? From the case study, “System Research and Development Project for Peaceful Living between Men and Wild Elephants, Based on Civic Participation and Communitybased Research.” The data in the analysis were obtained from three parts: 1) In-depth interviews with research groups, villagers, and other stakeholders, 2) Participative observations from project activities, and 3) Relevant research papers from 2019 to 2021. The study found that the application of citizen science instrument in the said case study, the prominent point was that it opened more space for talking on the problem of guarding against elephants of various groups. It helped to manage for some levels the knowledge on wild elephants and complex relationship of villagers, academicians, local officers, national park officers; depending on condition of area and different problem conditions. Villagers in some areas could enhance their knowledge from the research to bargaining with the state. They created a new set of knowledge in the form of system development for peaceful living between men and wild elephants. This was the result of lesson learning together. There were also more channels and networks in working for guarding against wild elephants.