ECS final event series 2026: A celebration of the ECS archipelago

Citizen Science Festival

This festival took place in the Valkea shopping mall of the city, was open to the public and designed to bring citizen science directly into the heart of Oulu and into the daily lives of its people, leveraging the opportunity of the European Capital of Culture in 2026. It offered an opportunity to use a lively public open space to engage passers-by, people who might not otherwise take part in a citizen science festival. The festival was about sharing the joy and impact of citizen science initiatives with everyone. The ECS project co-organised this festival with the University of Oulu and the European Citizen Science Association and as part of the ECSA2026 conference, and selected more than 20 citizen science initiatives to be featured. Highlights of the festival are available on the ECSA Flickr account.

Strengthening Public Engagement in Research: Evidence, Impact, and Future Pathways

Public engagement offers science and policymakers a strong return on investment by delivering scientific, environmental, and societal benefits at relatively low cost while strengthening democratic engagement. By involving the public directly in generating knowledge for policy, it increases transparency, builds civic skills, and fosters trust in institutions. At a time of declining trust in science and growing mis- and disinformation, citizen science helps reconnect knowledge, citizens, and policymaking. It supports EU priorities such as the Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, while contributing to initiatives like the European Democracy Shield and the Union of Skills. Looking ahead to future funding programmes and policy frameworks, scaling and better integrating public engagement can help ensure that research and policymaking remain inclusive, trusted, and impactful.

This event is organised together with IMPETUS and RIECS-Concept projects to make a case towards guaranteeing the future of citizen science. Want to join? Please contact us through our contact form here.

Bringing citizen science to public libraries

Organised in collaboration with the public libraries in Slovenia and the Slovenian Citizen Science Network, this event leverages relevant results of the project to provide capacity to local public libraries and raise awareness on the pivotal role of community hubs, such as public libraries and other networks, in bringing citizen science closer to their communities.

By showcasing how these spaces foster participation and inclusion, this event aims to strengthen local engagement and equip participants with what they need to design and implement citizen science initiatives.

Attendance to the event is free, but as space is limited, participation is by invitation and advance registration is required. Register now via the link below to secure your spot: registration form.

No project is an island — Bridges towards a joint legacy for the future of citizen science in Europe

Citizen science thrives on collaboration between researchers, policymakers, innovators, and the public. Yet within the citizen science community itself, a critical question remains: do we have the infrastructure to enable effective, lasting knowledge exchange across initiatives and projects? No project operates in isolation, and the collective learning generated across the field represents an underutilised asset for science and policymaking alike.

At a time when public engagement is increasingly recognised as essential to rebuilding trust in institutions and tackling mis- and disinformation, the connections we build within the citizen science ecosystem matter more than ever. Sharing what works and what doesn't strengthens the community's capacity to deliver the scientific, environmental, and societal benefits that make citizen science a genuine return on investment for Europe.

This summer, both the ECS and IMPETUS projects reach their conclusion. Before they do, we want to invite the citizen science community to come together to reflect on how these projects have supported citizen science across Europe and to celebrate the real-world impacts this work has made possible. The event will also provide an opportunity to hear from new and established citizen science projects, alongside stakeholders and decision-makers, ensuring that the momentum built can be sustained and that science continues to serve the society it represents.

Find out more, including how to join, here.