In scientific crowdsourcing and citizen science, a striking pattern often emerges: a very small group of participants contributes the majority of the data. This phenomenon, known as participation inequality or the 90-9-1 rule, is evident in platforms like Google Local Guides, Wikipedia, iNaturalist, and OpenStreetMap.

In this episode, we dicuss this topic with Muki Haklay, a renowned expert in citizen science and crowdsourcing. Together, we explore why the 90-9-1 rule plays a pivotal role in projects that rely on crowd participation. What drives this pattern, and should we strive to change it? Tune in as we unpack these questions and consider the implications of participation inequality in collaborative initiatives.