Public engagement in South Africa’s ecological research: the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of citizen science

Citizen Science projects that engage the public in scientific research can provide unique opportunities to promote education and to provide alternative approaches to teaching and learning. Cape Citizen Science is a South African project that demonstrates the benefits and value of involving the public in ecological research while showcasing methods for public engagement in ecological research. This project engages the public in hypothesis-driven research focused on plant-pathogen interactions in the Cape Floristic Region. The aim of this project was to update information about the impacts of Phytophthora species on an important biodiversity hotspot, the fynbos biome. Preliminary results indicate that citizen science projects such as this can be beneficial to ecological research in South Africa and provide unique learning activities for participants. The methods pioneered by Cape Citizen Science could be used as a model for future citizen science programs designed to foster scientific literacy and to benefit ecological research in South Africa.