Co-creation as a Form of Citizen Science in Kazakhstan: An Ethnographic Roadtrip in Visual Storytelling and Authorship
La Mela V. Yakupov B.
2023Duncker und Humblot GmbH
Sociologus
2023#73Issue 2151 - 175 pp.
This article proposes a step towards epistemic justice through co-creation as a form of citizen science. It explores co-creation as a methodology in the context of ethnographic field research conducted in southeastern Kazakhstan. During a research trip, the author hired a local taxi driver, who was also a photographer. He unexpectedly contributed to the research by bringing his own camera equipment and documenting the process from his personal perspective, both visually and conceptually. Through his photographs, he became a co-creator of knowledge, offering unique visual insights into fieldwork and highlighting alternative viewpoints on research and regional conditions. The article presents and analyses his images, discussing their role in knowledge production and the broader implications for participatory methodologies. Furthermore, it examines local perceptions of infrastructure development and neglect within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. By integrating these perspectives, this article contributes to ongoing debates on citizen science, emphasizing the value of inclusivity and co-creation in academic research.
citizen science , co-creation , Kazakhstan , photo essay , road trip
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Institut für Ethnologie, Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies, Universität Heidelberg, Voßstraße 2, Gebäude 4110, Heidelberg, 69115, Germany
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Institut für Ethnologie
Almaty
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