This article presents the results of the qualitative research conducted on Polish users of the Sensor.Community network. Different types of motivation behind the decision to engage in the collection of air quality data are discussed. Users’ motives have been found to result predominantly from the concern for the health and safety of their loved ones, as well as the need to control air quality (and ultimately the quality of life) in their immediate environment (home and neighbourhood). Users do not display civic behaviour such as working for the local community. Three factors have been proposed to explain this status quo. First, the motives related to health and safety, as opposed to motives behind seeking a resolution to an environmental problem at the local level, may contribute to the solidification of individualistic attitudes. Second, Sensor.Community is organised in a way that does not promote a greater involvement from the network organisers in the development of the initiative and retention of users. Instead, the network focuses predominantly on the technical aspects of operation. Third, users have no sense of agency as, in our opinion, they remain largely unaware of the value of the data they collect.

One important dimension of the debate surrounding science communication is the tension between the implementation of the deficit model and the repeated calls for the adoption of dialogical and participatory models. This article aims to show this friction empirically and interpret it theoretically. The text uses the operation of science centers as a form of science communication. Niklas Luhmann's systems theory serves as a tool to capture the broad structural difficulty in implementing participatory demands in science communication. This paper is based on research conducted in Polish science centers. It demonstrates that even in the organizationally favourable and relatively inclusive conditions offered by these centers, the environment as a whole cannot regulate the activities of the science system. It lacks knowledge of the essential social determinants of research activity and the areas of unfinished science. Conversely, the detailed findings of science are challenging to integrate such that they become comprehensively readable by the community without becoming a scientific black box. Luhmann's theory elucidates this fundamental difficulty in building the science-society relationship. From this perspective, a consistent and broad turn towards the dialogical and participatory model appears impossible.

The paper explores the assertion about multi-faceted tools of impact used by large corporations that aim to limit the subjectivity of consumers. It is based on the concept of “deep capture” (Hanson & Yosifon, 2003). Deep capture suggests that the consumers have only the idea of their own subjectivity, and that human behaviour is largely dependent on external situational factors rather than the individuals’ dispositions. In this context, the present authors analyse the role of large corporations in shaping the image of LGBT people in Poland. Noteworthy is the consideration to build and strengthen the belief that LGBT people are a group which suffers discrimination, to which anyone should make gestures of support throughout consumer decisions. An overview of the actions of business entities for LGBT groups in Poland allows us state that these actions cannot be called large-scale. The actions of Polish companies can be recognised as not very intense or committed. Western transnational corporations have vast experience in actions for LGBT people, but this is not necessarily the case in Poland.