From local practice to European policy: Highlights from the Citizen Science Fair 2025
Annelies
Oct. 15, 2025, 11 a.m.
Annelies Duerinckx | ECS Ambassador for Belgium
On 18 June 2025, the very first Belgian Citizen Science Fair took place in the garden of the Natural Sciences Institute in Brussels. Citizen scientists, researchers, families and curious passers-by had the chance to discover citizen science projects through demos, conversations and hands-on activities. More than 70 citizen science practitioners from Belgium and abroad presented their projects at 30 booths. In total, we welcomed over 120 visitors — from engaged citizens to policymakers — who actively participated in citizen science in all its forms.
Warming up for the Cluster Event
The Fair served as a satellite event ahead of the international Cluster Event on Public Engagement and Citizen Science, which took place the following day in Brussels. On 19 June, citizen science practitioners, policymakers, and representatives of EU-funded projects came together to formulate policy recommendations and help shape the future of citizen science in Europe.
As ECS Ambassador for Belgium, Scivil had the opportunity to co-organise this satellite event together with the European Citizen Science (ECS) project, the Belgian Natural Sciences Institute, and the European Commission. Without this collaboration, the Fair would not have come to life. We received enthusiastic feedback from both visitors and exhibitors, and many are already looking forward to a next edition. It’s certainly a format we aim to build on in the future. The connection between the Belgian and European networks added great value and enabled exchange of experiences among the participating projects.
Scivil as a connector
Scivil’s role aligns closely with that of the ECS Ambassadors, who were appointed within the ECS project to strengthen citizen science locally, build communities, and support policy impact. Scivil shares these goals through its work in Belgium, aiming to anchor and grow citizen science by connecting initiators and partners, sharing knowledge, and supporting projects that contribute to both scientific and societal progress.
With the Fair behind us, our next major initiative is already underway: the Belgian Citizen Science Scan 2025, a large-scale inventory of citizen science projects in Belgium. This summer, we worked with students to build a rich dataset that provides insights into themes, collaborations, and impact of citizen science projects. The results of the previous edition (2023) proved to be a valuable resource for citizen science practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in Belgium. Not only does the scan offer an overview of all active projects in Belgium, it also sheds light on funding sources, involved partners, citizen contributions, and more. The report provides useful guidance for organisations looking to position themselves within the citizen science landscape and define future goals. The report of the 2025 Scan will be launched in spring of 2026.
Image credits: Barbara Vanhulle