NIH Seeks Paperwork OK for Citizen Science Surveys
Published Date: 9/28/2026
Notice
Summary
The NIH is asking for approval to keep collecting info from citizen science and crowdsourcing projects, making it easier to gather public input on health research. This affects anyone involved in these projects and invites comments by October 28, 2026. No new costs or big changes, just a smooth way to keep the data flowing for better science!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
NIH continues citizen science data collection
The NIH is requesting OMB approval to continue a generic clearance that allows citizen science and crowdsourcing projects to collect public input for research. OMB approval is requested for 3 years (this is a revision tied to collection 0925-0766 with a 09/30/2026 revision noted). The collection’s stated goals include accelerating scientific research, increasing cost-effectiveness, and addressing societal needs.
Respondents bear time-only burden
The notice states there are no costs to respondents other than their time and estimates total annualized burden of 18,584 hours. The estimated annualized burden is broken down as: Call for Nominations/Resources — 1,000 responses × 10/60 hour = 167 hours; Recommendations of scientific reviewers — 1,000 × 5/60 hour = 83 hours; Request for Population Characteristics — 20,000 × 5/60 hour = 1,667 hours; Repository of Tools and Best Practices — 100,000 × 10/60 hour = 16,667 hours.
Public gains STEM learning and engagement
NIH says the information collection will provide hands-on learning in STEM education and connect members of the public directly to federal science missions and to each other. The collection is also intended to identify and disseminate resources more broadly on Institutes' and Centers' websites and to collect information to improve scientific practices.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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