citizenscience.eu blog

Nadia Bates, April 28, 2026, 11 a.m.

As part of the ECS final event series, we are hosting a policy event in collaboration with the Impetus and RIECS-Concept projects. This event, titled “Strengthening Public Engagement in Research: Evidence, Impact, and Future Pathways”, will take place in Brussels on 4 June and highlight how scaling citizen engagement can help ensure that research and policymaking are inclusive, transparent, trusted, and impactful.

Alexandre Torres Ferreira, April 28, 2026, 11 a.m.

On 6 March 2026, the Valkea shopping mall in Oulu turned into something you don't usually find between the shops. People on their way to run errands found themselves stopping, lingering, getting drawn into conversations about biodiversity monitoring, river health, and inclusive research.

Andreja Vovk Iskrić, April 28, 2026, 11 a.m.

Since its inception, European Citizen Science, led by the European Citizen Science Association, has aimed to strengthen and expand the citizen science community across Europe, placing inclusivity at the centre of its work. A key ambition has been to make citizen science accessible to everyone, particularly underrepresented groups, while recognising public libraries as essential community spaces that can help realise this vision.

Alexandre Torres Ferreira, Feb. 24, 2026, 10:55 a.m.

One of the first things we noticed, supporting inclusive citizen science pilots across Europe, was how easily technology could become a barrier. Not because apps are badly designed, but because the assumption that digital tools inherently lower barriers isn’t necessarily true for every community. Older adults may have no interest in learning to navigate a smartphone. Fishers who are out in rough weather with wet gloves won’t find touchscreens very convenient. And a frustrating experience with a citizen science app can leave people feeling more excluded, not less.

Carolina Doran Doran, Feb. 16, 2026, 8:14 a.m.

Almost at the end of the ECS project we can see the amazing legacy it has built. A now more connected and stronger community is richer in infrastructure, connections and resources. Our 28 ECS ambassadors strengthen their local networks and enriched us all with unique knowledge from their corner of the world; Our inclusive pilots worked with different communities across Europe to include them in the research and decision making processes regarding issues affecting them; we build bridges between local and global policies, we developed the first European Citizen Science Academy where everyone can expand their knowledge of CS; we developed novel ways to measure the impact of our work and how to be more inclusive across domains and borders.  

Marina Tisner, Dec. 4, 2025, 12:10 p.m.

The REINFORCING ORRI Platform is an online space where users can find clear guidance, materials and support related to Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI). Developed by the EU-funded REINFORCING project, the platform brings together funding options, tools, training sessions and a growing community of organisations committed to advancing ORRI in their work. Its purpose is to help groups start, strengthen or expand their ORRI practices in a simple and accessible way.

Pietro Rigonat, Dec. 4, 2025, 12:10 p.m.

The PATTERN project (“Piloting open and responsible Activities and Trainings Towards the Enhancement of Researchers Networks”) is a 42month Horizon Europe coordination initiative aiming to embed Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (Open RRI) principles into researchers’ professional lives. By co-creating and piloting high quality training modules across its network of academic and research institutions, PATTERN seeks to empower researchers at all stages of their careers within the European Research Area (ERA).

Barbora Duží Nov. 21, 2025, 2:13 p.m.

On Thursday, 13th November, the Institute of Geonics held an opening ceremony at Arnold Villa in Brno, Czech Republic. Nearly thirty enthusiastic representatives from academia, NGOs, and the public from the Czech Republic and Slovakia gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Mutual Interest in the development of citizen science in both countries. This initiative marked a new chapter of collaboration within the citizen science platform. The Memorandum is the result of long-term efforts and is supported by the European Citizen Science project.

Caren Queiroz, Nov. 20, 2025, 1:08 p.m.

"Think locally, act globally". This classic quote of the very missed Jane Goodall is more than an inspiration, but also a call to all involved in conservation. To do so, an acknowledged first step is to (re)connect people with nature.

Annelies Duerinckx, Oct. 15, 2025, 11 a.m.

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.

Natalie Gildea, Oct. 15, 2025, 11 a.m.

Most scientific research efforts have started with a simple moment of curiosity — people considering alternative ways to perform everyday tasks or address modern problems. As today’s world grows increasingly complex, science has a much greater need for curious minds and the intertwinement of new perspectives, and recent growths in citizen science projects have helped to fill that gap.

Zarja Mursic, Oct. 15, 2025, 11 a.m.

Imagine a community of curious people with whom you enjoy exploring all fields of science and sometimes even actively participate in science no matter your background. When I first heard of citizen science my first thought was that this is what science needs to be: open, accessible, full of curiosity.