---
title: "Best Benefit Ever: Shaping the Citizen Science Association"
id: "33019"
type: "post"
slug: "best-benefit-ever-shaping-the-citizen-science-association"
published_at: "2016-04-19T22:22:55+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:33+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/04/19/best-benefit-ever-shaping-the-citizen-science-association/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/04/19/best-benefit-ever-shaping-the-citizen-science-association.md"
excerpt: "The Citizen Science Association is a new entrant in the scientific community, officially opening its doors to new members and, most importantly, new ideas."
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  - "Membership"
  - "science"
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taxonomy_persona:
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---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
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 » Best Benefit Ever: Shaping the Citizen Science Association

**What is it?** The [Citizen Science Association (opens in a new tab)](https://citizenscienceassociation.org)
 is a newer organization that “adopts a broad definition of ‘citizen science’ and aims to build collaborations across disciplines, traditions, and geographic boundaries.” Since CSA is a fresh entrant to the association space, [inaugural memberships are entirely free (opens in a new tab)](https://citizenscienceassociation.org/membership/)
, which is a nice perk in and of itself. But those inaugural members also have the opportunity to play a role in CSA’s early evolution by [contributing to an in-depth survey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q62P9GY?sm=t6LOo1I%2fB6gXQ7ygL8hldQ%3d%3d)
 that seeks to do three things: gauge the needs and qualifications of the community, bring that information to potential funders so they can better understand CSA’s membership, and test community interest in particular activities and events.

**Why it works:** Newer associations have to make a positive impression, which is why CSA’s focus on soliciting input is so noteworthy. From the start, members are allowed to help determine the path the association takes in accomplishing [its goal of establishing and growing a community (opens in a new tab)](https://citizenscienceassociation.org/overview/goals/)
 of engaged, diverse citizen scientists. And on the flip side, CSA gets to better understand its members right out the gate, providing a better impression of what’s bound to please, or displease, its constituency.

**Other benefits:** Next year, [CSA will be hosting its second CitSci conference (opens in a new tab)](https://citizenscienceassociation.org/conference/citizen-science-2017/)
. Though specific details have yet to be announced, members can be assured that the event will follow in the footsteps of CitSci2015, [which featured a plethora of panels and discussions (opens in a new tab)](https://citizenscienceassociation.org/conference/citizen-science-2015/overview/agenda/)
 from across the field of citizen science.

(vasabii/Thinkstock)

[Morgan Little](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/)

Morgan Little is a contributor to Associations Now.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/)

Tags: [#community data](https://associationsnow.com/tag/community-data/)
 [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/)
 [#science](https://associationsnow.com/tag/science/)

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