[open-science] Open PhD Competition in Extreme Citizen Science

[Jenny Molloy]

Hi All

This may be of interest to you or your contacts!

Jenny

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*Open PhD Competition in Extreme Citizen Science*

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*Duration* – 3 years****

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*Funding* The scholarship covers UCL tuition fees and provides a stipend of
£15,590 per annum tax free. Travel expenses and research equipment will be
provided to the successful candidate****

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*Funding Body* EPSRC****

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*Vacancy Information*****

This is an open call for a prospective PhD student to propose a novel and
exciting project to develop new methods in Extreme Citizen Science, or
which addresses a particularly interesting or unusual problem.****

The Extreme Citizen Science (ExCiteS) group at UCL is a collaborative and
interdisciplinary research team, with the vision to challenge the way we do
traditional science and engineering. While existing Citizen Science
practices assume that educated citizens can participate in scientific data
collection, but not in formulating research questions and/or in the
analysis of results, we believe that the greatest future impacts of science
are likely to be gained when almost everyone is empowered to participate in
research and use scientific tools to improve their environment locally and
share the knowledge globally.****

Extreme Citizen Science is essentially science by citizens, where people
take real ownership of the issues that concern them. Regardless of their
level of literacy or education people can collect scientifically valid data
to evidence, illustrate and frame the issue, then visualise and analyse the
results to subsequently develop strategies in order to address it. Our team
is working together to develop tools and methodologies that facilitate this
process in which anyone (from individuals to groups and communities) can
start their own scientific investigation. ExCiteS tools are developed and
expanded directly with people in their communities allowing for co-created
knowledge to be shared and used in a process of empowerment and action. In
a technical sense, in ExCiteS we engage in a process of creating new
languages which we technologically facilitate and which enable communities
that are not in conversation to engage in a conversation, which has results
and changes what is happening in that particular context – whether it is
the airplanes flying over Isleworth or the activities of Eco-guards in
Congo.****

To find more about us you can visit our website
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/excites/ , read our blog
http://uclexcites.wordpress.com/category/articles/  and look at
presentations by our directors, Muki Haklay (see
https://povesham.wordpress.com/tag/citizen-science/  ) and Jerome Lewis (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXPfryZxUs0 ).****

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*Studentship Description*****

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We are looking for applicants who have research proposals that fall within
and complement our aims and objectives. You should be able to provide a
clear research idea that will contribute to or extend ExCiteS activities,
but which will be theoretically sophisticated and methodologically novel.
Your research proposal needs to explain what your contribution will be, the
methods that you will use, an estimation of further support (beyond the
studentship) that you will need to complete your studies, a timeline of key
activities and also show how your work could complement our vision and
other activities of the group.****

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*Person Specification*****

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Applicants should possess an honours degree (1st Class or 2:1 minimum), and
a Masters degree in any discipline that contributes to the development of
ExCiteS methods and theories. Currently the ExCiteS group consists of
several PhD students and researchers from a multiplicity of backgrounds and
skills: artists, planners, anthropologists, computer scientists, and
geographers with knowledge in community development, electronic
engineering, and conservation. Your application will not be limited to a
specific discipline. Non-academic experience that relates to or contributes
to your research is an asset but not a requirement. You will also need to
demonstrate experience in project management and demonstrate that you can
set yourself long term goals and achieve them, and be able to work with the
diverse, multidisciplinary group that ExCiteS is. Language skills beyond
English are desirable.****

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*Eligibility*****

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Applications are invited from UK and EU citizenship holders. Unfortunately,
we will not be able to cover the difference in tuition fee costs for people
from outside the EU, though you are welcome to apply if you are non-EU if
you can self-fund the difference in tuition fees.****

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*Start Date*****

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The PhD studies will commence between February 2013 and October 2013, at
time that is suitable to the candidate.****

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*Application Procedure*****

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Applicants should send a cover letter, 4 pages research proposal, examples
of academic writing (e.g. Masters dissertation), outputs from past work, 2
reference letters and CV to Gail Austen-Price (g.austen-price at ucl.ac.uk ).
The cover letter should include a personal statement explaining your
interest in citizen science, why you are interested in our project and how
you would see your work integrated into ExCiteS vision and activities. You
are welcome to contact Gail, Muki, Jerome and other members of the group
with queries about your research proposal or if you would like to have an
informal call about it.****

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*Closing Date*****

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26 January 2013****

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Muki Haklay: Professor of GIScience****

Extreme Citizen Science (ExCiteS) research group****

Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering
University College London (UCL)
Gower St. London WC1E 6BT****

T: +44 20 7679 2745 E: m.haklay at ucl.ac.uk W: www.ucl.ac.uk/excites ****

Mapping for Change - www.mappingforchange.org.uk****

Blog: povesham.wordpress.com****

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