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Insights and examples from crowdsourced biological sciences. Presented as part of a workshop at Edinburgh University.
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Dr Erinma OchuFaculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester
Crowdsourcing biological science:examples & insights
Cell slider Phylo Eyewire
Overview
•My background•Definitions: citizen science•Examples & insights•Considerations •Publications & Resources
www.slideshare.net/erinmaochu
Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellows
Catalyst! Citizen-led social innovation tools for change
@catalystproj www.catalystproject.org.uk
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1. Identify problems/define needs
Consider ethics, failure, engagement & impact as innovation points
2. Pilot interdisciplinary partnership solutions
3. Archive & evaluate journey
& impact
4. Mobilise knowledgepolicy & practice
Approach
Definitions/ Approaches• Citizen Science
– Unpaid individuals & interest groups contributing to scientific experiments
• Co-design (or extreme citizen science)– Public participate in setting research question(s), methods and/ or
analysis to address social need• Crowdsourced science
– Complex problem, wisdom & power of crowd to create, analyse, collect datasets – research benefits
• DIYBIO – network of hobbyists & biohackers DIY, hack, open source ethos to labs, equipment, methods
• Variations – Citizen Science with co-design & crowdsourcing elements
Large scale & complex problems
Wisdom of the crowd
FOLDIT: http://fold.it/
• Protein structure prediction computationally demanding• Competitive puzzles to better understand protein structures• 3D Tetris & Minecraft • Started as Rosetta@home – using computing power • Feedback between developers & users & lots of new puzzles• Compete against other players – leaderboard for each puzzle• See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGYJyur4FUA
Nature Biotechnology 2012; 30; 190 - 192
Nature 2010 ;466 (7307); 756 - 60.
Cell slider: http://www.cellslider.net/
• Cancer UK & Zooniverse (https://www.zooniverse.org/#biology)
• Identify cancerous breast cells donated from patients• Motivates by ‘joining the fight against cancer’
Phylo: http://phylo.cs.mcgill.ca/
• DNA puzzle game that contributes to mapping diseases within human DNA
• Sheer size of genome makes it too expensive for computers• Relies on human pattern recognition• Visual tutorial• Leader boards (total, monthly & weekly)• Translated into 9 different languages
Eyewire: https://eyewire.org/
• Part of ‘Wired Differently’: http://wireddifferently.org which aims to map the connectome (connections between neurones)
• EyeWire is an online community of “citizen neuroscientists” who map neural connections by playing a game.
CROWDSOURCED EXAMPLES
• ADD to google doc: http://bit.ly/VidiGw• Join google+ communities:
http://bit.ly/VhX7vy
Other considerations• Complex problem benefits from power & wisdom of
the crowd to solve it collectively• Not solve-able by other means• Ethical considerations – patient data, samples• Simplicity of sign up & participation• Social software strategy: recognition & engagement• Clear instructions, guidance & accessibility• Feedback & evaluation• Partnerships
Partnerships• Biological Science Researchers• Other disciplines: IT, management, social science,
communications, psychology?• Technology: platform & channels, database,
architecture, server, instructional content,• Communication & marketing• Design: graphics, 3D modelling, website, game• Industry: scale-able problems?• Roles & Responsibilities, Budget, IP
Gamification
• Applying game design techniques to encourage user adoption and participation.– Leader boards– Achievement badges – Achievement levels– Reward systems
• Ensure your social software strategy includes ways of measuring and rewarding users for their participation.
Your idea – what’s the…• Problem/ Need?• Benefit & Impact?• Competition?• Approach:
– Technology?– Instructional content?– Support, training, sharing findings?– Recognition, engagement & management? – Partners?
• Ethical considerations?
Publications & Resources• Centre for Social Justice, Durham Ethical Guidance:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/beacon/socialjustice/ethics_consultation/
• Guide to Citizen Science: http://www.ukeof.org.uk/documents/guide-to-citizen-science.pdf
• Predicting protein structures with a multiplayer online game: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20686574
• Exploring collective intelligence games with design: a citizen science case: http://crowston.syr.edu/system/files/designing%20citizen%20science%20games.pdf
• Beyond research in the wild: citizen-led research as a model for innovation in the digital economy: http://www.de2012.org/sites/default/files/digitalfutures2012papers/Papers/Session1BTalesofEngagement/Whittle_etal_BeyondRitW.pdf
