Abstract How much do we know about the identity of the adult citizen scientist; about why people do or don’t participate in citizen science; or about the relationship between projects and participants? Empirical research on participation in citizen science is required (Bonney et al. 2009; Nov et al. 2014) to enable the development and implementation of more informed and targeted participation strategies. This Australian-based study utilises qualitative and quantitative data collected from practitioners and participants involved in a diverse range of citizen science projects, as well as from people who have not previously participated in citizen science. The research examines project design and recruitment; personal and social environmental identity of participants and non-participants; motivation for and awareness of citizen science; and factors that inhibit or enable participation. This presentation summarises the implications of this research for participant-focused project design, and the application of identity theory to the field of citizen science. References Bonney, R, Ballard, H, Jordan, R, McCallie, E, Phillips, T, Shirk, J and Wilderman, C C 2009 Public participation in scientific research: Defining the field and assessing its potential for informal science education. A CAISE Inquiry Group Report. Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE): Washington DC. Nov, O, Arazy, O and Anderson, D 2014 Scientists@Home: What drives the quantity and quality of online citizen science participation?. PLoS ONE. 9(4): 1. Keywords Environmental identity, participation, non-participation, project design Nina James, BAdultVocEd(Hons 1st), MEnvMgmtSust(NatResMgmt) PhD Scholar, Citizen Science Researcher School of Natural and Built Environments | University of South Australia H2-09 Mawson Lakes campus PO Box 2471, ADELAIDE South Australia, 5001 Ph: 8302 3942 | Mob: 0434 421 946 Sign up for the Citizen Science eNews: http://bit.ly/Discovery-Circle-eNews Website: http://www.unisa.edu.au/citizenscience Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thediscoverycircle