Post written by Dr. Laura Trouille
Image Caption: Creating space for the public to help shape how AI is used in citizen science. Image Source: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Science.
As Vice President of Science Engagement at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, PI for Zooniverse, and a member of the NA-ROAD Governing Council, I’m excited to share news of a new Kavli Foundation grant supporting an ethics initiative that reflects both Zooniverse’s commitment to participatory research and NA-ROAD’s emphasis on responsible innovation and inclusive engagement. This effort directly aligns with NA-ROAD’s strategic plan by embedding ethical reflection and community participation into the evolving relationship between science, technology, and society. One of our aims is to ensure the opportunities artificial intelligence (AI) offers in astronomy and beyond are leveraged in ways that uphold transparency, equity, and trust.
This Kavli-funded initiative provides a unique opportunity to create the first-ever ethical AI framework for Zooniverse, the world’s largest platform for participatory science. The work will unfold through a series of interdisciplinary workshops bringing together researchers, AI experts, ethicists, legal scholars, Zooniverse project leads and leadership team, and—critically—platform volunteers. These workshops (followed by intensive working sessions), running now through Fall 2025, will guide how AI is integrated into citizen science.
In early 2026 the draft AI framework will be tested and refined through use in several astronomy-focused Zooniverse projects connected to the NSF-Simons SkAI Institute. Lessons from that application will shape a platform-wide rollout, accompanied by dissemination to the broader citizen science and research communities. This community-informed approach helps ensure not only that our use of AI is technically sound, but that it reflects shared values between researchers and the public—especially important in a space where volunteers are not just participants, but collaborators.
This project is a powerful reminder of what can happen when scientific institutions make space for dialogue. Volunteers—some of the nearly 3 million contributing to Zooniverse—are among those who raised ethical concerns around AI that sparked this initiative. Through this work, we’re committed to making sure those voices continue to shape how we use technology in science. We look forward to sharing our progress and welcome input from the OAD community as this effort unfolds.