Supporting Museum Commons through Community Engagement: A Case Study of Citizen Scientists and Authorship in Osaka Museum of Natural History’s “Nature Study”

Abstract

The Osaka Museum of Natural History has focused on fostering a museum community. The Friends of the Museum organization serves as the foundation for its outreach activities. This community plays a crucial role in enhancing the value of the museum’s commons, including its collections and information archives. This study examines the role of the museum’s popular science magazine in encouraging new contributions to the museum community, with a particular focus on changes in the composition of its authors over time. The magazine has successfully attracted many first-time authors, some of whom have continued to contribute. The discussion also considers factors such as the museum’s expanded support for citizen science, the broadening of educational programs, and the involvement of small research groups and academic societies. Additionally, it explores individualized support initiatives and participatory citizen science projects.