How crowdsourcing delivers new research approaches. "Tell us!" – An innovation project of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft

Abstract

Research must generate benefits, especially against the background of social, ecological, economic and political problems, science is called upon to address socially relevant issues. The involvement of those affected at the beginning of research is the focus of "Tell us!" projects of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG). Crowdsourcing collects questions that are systematically incorporated into research and therefore determine the direction of the research projects. This article describes why the LBG opens up systematically, outlines details on "Tell us!" projects and discusses important factors for successful crowdsourcing projects in research.