Participation lies at the heart of citizen science, but it is also one of the areas most affected by scaling decisions. As projects expand their reach, replicate activities, or engage with wider systems, participation may become more demanding for both volunteers and coordinators.

Citizen science often depends on sustained relationships, trust, and ongoing communication (Pandya, 2012; Shirk et al., 2012). Scaling can place pressure on participation by increasing expectations around coordination, communication, reporting, and engagement. Expanding too quickly may weaken participation quality or local ownership if additional support structures are not in place (Pandya, 2012).

For this reason, it is important to consider not only whether participation can increase in quantity, but whether it can be sustained meaningfully over time. This involves reflecting on participant motivations, inclusivity, communication capacity, and the often invisible emotional and organisational labour involved in maintaining engagement.

Projects may therefore benefit from asking: are we creating conditions that support long-term participation, or are we placing additional pressure on already limited capacity?

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