Mobilizing Canadians as citizen scientists
Beyond formal funding, Canadians themselves actively support research by participating in radon testing alongside professional scientists, making them great citizen scientists, according to Goodarzi.
The Evict Radon National Study capitalizes on this interest by enabling people in Canada to obtain at‐cost radon testing kits. The outcomes are helpful to both the person testing their house and cancer researchers compiling all data gathered to build a picture of radon exposure in homes across Canada.
Tens of thousands of Canadians have responded so far, enabling the team to understand how radon levels differ by region, community and building type, and, very importantly, to track how people’ s lifestyles impact radon exposure levels.
“ It ' s only through the power of citizen science that we’ ve really been able to do that,” says Goodarzi.
Goodarzi has also empowered tens of thousands of real estate professionals to boost science communication, working with the Real Estate Council of Alberta to include radon awareness in licensing.
“ Now all real estate professionals in Alberta, to be licensed, have to build good, robust knowledge on this, which has really helped change the narrative,” he says.
As Lead of Science Communication and Public Outreach for the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Goodarzi also believes strong scientific knowledge translation is one of the best ways that a researcher can make a difference to society.
“[ We need ] more people … going out, talking to the people where they are … in a way that is clear and understood. You have to go talk to the people where they are,” he says.