Community Science Officer

Job Summary

The role is based within the Community Science Programme in the Museum’s Angela Marmont Centre
for UK Nature. Community Science (often called citizen science) is where members of the public
with no specialist scientific training can collaborate with professional researchers to
undertake real environmental research. It forms a key part of the Museum’s Strategy to 2031.
The Museum’s Community Science Programme is well established, having delivered a broad range of
innovative research projects for over fifteen years. The community science team collaborate
nationally and internationally to support the growth of community science as a movement and as
a research approach, and to conduct research into the benefits and outcomes of participating.
We aim to identify and advocate for best practice in the field.

The Museum’s Urban Nature Project is a large multi-partner project to transform our onsite
outdoor spaces to engage visitors with our core narratives of origins of evolution, diversity
of life and sustainable futures. As part of this transformation, we are delivering national
learning programmes and a national community science programme that will involve audiences
across the UK in authentic urban biodiversity research, connecting people to urban
biodiversity, the issues it faces and the roles they can play in achieving positive change.
Through this programme, we aim to connect people with nature and create advocates for the
planet – people who speak up on behalf of nature and ultimately take action to protect it.

To engage thousands of people across the UK in authentic urban biodiversity research, the
post-holder will be working on the development and delivery of Nature Overheard, a programme of
large-scale community science activities with an overarching theme of understanding the impact
of roads on nature. This programme aims to develop young people’s science identities and sense
of agency to take environmental action, by placing them at the heart of the research process.
As such, this research theme was informed by young people who submitted research ideas to the
Museum in 2022. The main activity is the Nature Overheard survey
(https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/monitor-and-encourage-nature/nature-overheard.html), in which
participants record audio and survey insects near roads, launched in 2023, and a second cycle
is taking place in 2024. 

We are seeking a Community Science Officer for this ambitious programme. The postholder will be
coordinating between participants, researchers, and external stakeholders to deliver these
activities through 2024 and support the data analysis and interpretation, with the potential to
co-author project reports and research outputs. They will also play a key role in the
evaluation and reporting of the programme, working with colleagues in Communications to uncover
the hidden stories in the data.

Please be aware that there is a possibility of an extension until 31st March 2025. The
extension would include similar tasks and responsibilities on another externally funded
project. 

About you

• Undergraduate degree in natural sciences or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience working in the field of natural sciences, including developing and following
  scientific protocols. 
• Knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world and a passion for connecting people with
  nature. 
• Experience of engaging people in citizen science/community science projects, including
  developing field-based resources for participants. 
• Ability to confidently identify common insects to order level (or willingness to learn). 
• Proven ability to work independently, pro-actively and as part of a collaborative team. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrable ability and confidence
  to communicate effectively at all levels, in particular writing for both academic
  (peer-reviewed) and public audiences. 
• Confident use of IT skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office. 
• Competence with data analysis software like R would be advantageous but not essential. 
• An understanding of the role of citizen science/community science and the breadth of
  citizen science/community science projects in the UK and beyond, including participating in
  and/or designing projects.