Citizen Researchers

One of the things which makes From Local to Global unique, is the diversity of the project team. Unlike similar projects, the group is made up of Scarborough Museums and Galleries employees; artists; freelancers, and Citizen Researchers from around the world, all sharing their particular skills, expertise and, most importantly, passion.

Citizen Researchers are volunteers who have chosen to work specifically on this project, and their tasks are wide ranging. Some have been involved in scanning diaries; others have worked on creating transcriptions; some have looked at the thousands of photos held in the collection at Scarborough Museums; and the majority have written articles for the website (Link here to Articles)

So, why have they chosen to join, and what do they get out of it? For some, it is the pride in being published on the website - it is great to have a passion, but it can be difficult to share it. However, writing an article around your findings and having it read on a global level is rather special.

For others it is about making new friends, and meeting people - some of the Citizen Researchers were new to the area, or had not been able to interact much as a result of the pandemic, joining the team with its the regular drop-ins, meant that they started to build up relationships with others who shared their interest.

Another reason for engaging is to explore a personal passion that bit further. One Citizen Researcher is passionate about children’s literature, and working on this project enabled them to explore that area within a clear framework. Another has geology as a background, for them the project opened up the opportunity to look at the exploitation and extraction of minerals within a specific area.

And of course there are those who want to know more about the place they are from, whether that be Scarborough, and the tunny girls, or those originally from the Congo who have been able to give new perspectives on items within the collection. As one Congolese Citizen Researcher stated, “As regards to what I saw in the stores, that was quite overwhelming. It was nice to see, something that belonged to my ancestors – some people they don’t even know about this.”

The articles themselves are 500-750 words in length, and focus on subjects that interest the author. In some instances, researchers are encouraged to look at a specific area to aid the development of the project. Before publishing, the project assistant will review the article and will share it with the project manager who makes any final edits. Any changes are made with the approval of all parties – it is important to maintain the balance of the original writer’s voice, along with the museum’s ethos and approach to the project.

Get involved
The Citizen Researcher programme has allowed Scarborough Museums and Galleries to work with a wide range of people - locally, nationally, and internationally - and has been a crucial strand of activity in the development of the project. It is something that we are keen to continue within future projects. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Citizen Researcher, we are always looking to expand the team, so please contact us using the information below. 

CONTACT
Yasmin Stefanov-King, From Local to Global Project Assistant
global@scarboroughmuseumsandgalleries.org.uk

ADDRESS Yasmin Stefanov-King, Scarborough Museums and Galleries, Woodend, The Crescent, Scarborough YO11 2PW 

PHONE 01723 384500