TRAINING in German: CAS Citizen Science and Public Engagement

Hast Du eine Idee für ein partizipatives (Forschungs-)Projekt und fragst Dich, wie Du diese am besten umsetzen kannst? Steckst Du mitten in der Projektarbeit und merkst, dass die Dinge nicht ganz so laufen, wie Du es Dir vorgestellt hast? Oder bringst Du schon einiges an Erfahrung mit in partizipativen Projekten und möchtest über Deinen Tellerrand schauen? Dann bist Du hier richtig - egal ob ganz am Anfang einer vagen Idee oder schon mittendrin. Denn: Gemeinsam wissen wir mehr. Vielschichtige Perspektiven & Erfahrungen Neben Inputs zu zentralen Themen rund um partizipative Projektarbeit lebt der CAS von den vielschichtigen Perspektiven und Erfahrungen der Teilnehmenden. Diese kommen aus ganz unterschiedlichen Bereichen: zum Beispiel aus der Forschung, Museen, Bibliotheken, Archiven, NGOs, der Verwaltung oder dem Gesundheitsbereich. So vielfältig diese Zielgruppe auf den ersten Blick sein mag, sie eint das Interesse an der Umsetzung partizipativer Projekte, an gemeinsamer Wissensproduktion und dem Einbezug der Bevölkerung. Genau in dieser Kombination aus Unterschieden und Gemeinsamkeiten der CAS-Teilnehmenden sehen wir eine grosse Chance für das Von- und Miteinander-Lernen und für die Vernetzung mit Gleichgesinnten, die sich in ganz anderen institutionellen Umgebungen bewegen und zu den verschiedensten Themen arbeiten.

OneAquaHealth IEEE Global Hackathon

Join the OneAquaHealth IEEE Global Hackathon 2026 ! A worldwide call to innovators, creators, and problem‑solvers - the IEEE and OneAquaHealth project invite participants from across the globe to co‑create breakthrough solutions for healthier urban freshwater ecosystems. This global hackathon unites AI enthusiasts, environmental thinkers, designers, developers, researchers, and citizen‑science champions to transform real environmental and community data into tools that protect biodiversity, strengthen resilience, and improve human wellbeing. Whether you’re passionate about AI for good, urban water health, biodiversity, climate resilience, or digital innovation, this is your moment to make an impact on a global stage. Build. Collaborate. Innovate - with the world watching. Be part of a global movement shaping smarter, healthier, more sustainable cities. To register for the hackathon, visit: https://oneaquahealth-ieee-hackathon.devpost.com/rules ***Coming Up Next on June 12, 2026: Session 1 - Introducing the OneAquaHealth Project*** Explore the mission, technical tracks, and innovation opportunities behind the IEEE OneAquaHealth Global Hackathon. To register for the webinar, visit: https://www.oneaquahealth.eu/introducing-oneaquahealth-project/

III Workshop Mapeamento Colaborativo e Cartografia Social - MPCS 2025

✅ -- In Portuguese below The Participatory Mapping and Social Cartography Workshop - MPCS, in its third edition, aims to bring together researchers from Portuguese-speaking countries - Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor - who have in common the use of collective mapping methodologies, known as participatory or collaborative mapping. Part of the projects presented at the Mapping Project Exhibition, the preparatory stage for the III Workshop on Participatory Mapping and Social Cartography - MPCS 2025, will be selected by the organizing committee for publication as a book chapter in the second volume of the book of case studies, to be released in early 2026 under the IVIDES publishing label, https://ivides.org/livros. ✅ -- PT -- O evento Workshop Mapeamento Participativo e Cartografia Social – MPCS, em sua terceira edição, visa reunir pesquisadores de países lusófonos – Angola, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Guiné Equatorial, Moçambique, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe ou Timor Leste, que têm em comum, a utilização das metodologias de mapeamento coletivo, conhecidas como mapeamentos participativos ou colaborativos. Parte dos projetos apresentados na Mostra de projetos de mapeamento, etapa preparatória do III Workshop Mapeamento Participativo e Cartografia Social – MPCS 2025, serão selecionados pela comissão organizadora para publicação, como capítulo de livro, integrante do segundo volume do livro de estudos de caso, a ser lançado no início de 2026 com o selo da editora IVIDES, https://ivides.org/livros.

BE THE CHANGE ambassador training

🌊 Ready to BE THE CHANGE? 🌍 Join us for the SPLASH EU Ambassador Training in Figueira da Foz, Portugal – an unforgettable experience for passionate young changemakers! 📅 16–18 July 2025 📍 Campus UC, Figueira da Foz 👥 Ages 18–30 🍽️ Meals & accommodation provided for 25 participants 💥 What’s in it for you? 🔹 Boost your public speaking & communication skills 🔹 Level up your leadership & digital advocacy 🔹 Become a SPLASH-EU Ambassador and advocate for ocean citizenship 👉 Secure your spot NOW: https://lnkd.in/dYaNk3kT 📲 Scan the QR code on the poster for quick access! 📢 Coordinated by: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and MindmeUp L.P. 📢 Supported by: Universidade de Coimbra, EU4Ocean, ACTeon and European Commission

EN/GER: Wie gesund sind deine Kartoffeln? DNA-Analyse im molekularbiologischen Labor des Naturkundemuseums

English description below -DEU- Welche Kartoffelsorten sind resistent gegen Kartoffelfäule, Colletotrichum-Welkekrankheit, Silberschorf? Dies sind die unterschiedlichen Krankheiten, mit denen sich das PataFEST-Projekt beschäftigt. Um einen Einblick in die Welt der Kartoffelforschung zu geben, lädt ECSA Kartoffelanbauende ins Naturkundemuseum ein, um ihre eigenen Kartoffelblätter zur DNA-Analyse mitzubringen, um sie auf krankheitsresistente Gene zu untersuchen. Gemeinsam mit dem Team aus dem Labor werden die unterschiedlichen Stufen einer DNA Analyse erklärt und durchgeführt: Isolierung der DNA, Quanitfizierung, PCR und DNA Sequenzierung. Neugierig geworden? Dann schreibt uns unter: patafest@ecsa.ngo oder meldet euch hier an: https://forms.monday.com/forms/b293b6583af626453f7e5c57b675a190?r=euc1 Leider dürfen Personen, die schwanger sind, stillen, unter 18 Jahre alt sind oder keine Kartoffeln anbauen, nicht ins Labor. Wir werden einen separaten Stand in der Ausstellungshalle des Museums haben, der für jeden zugänglich ist. -ENG- Which potato varieties are resistant to dry rot, black dot and silver scurf? These are the different diseases that the PataFEST project deals with. To give an insight into the world of potato research, ECSA, together with the Natural History Museum Berlin, invites potato growers to bring in their own potato leaves. You can then test them for disease resistant genes. Together with the team from the laboratory, the different stages of DNA analysis will be explained and carried out: Isolation of DNA, quantification, PCR and DNA sequencing. Curious? Then write to us at patafest@ecsa.ngo You can also register here: https://forms.monday.com/forms/b293b6583af626453f7e5c57b675a190?r=euc1 Unfortunately, people, who are pregnant, breastfeeding or under the age of 18 cannot enter the lab. We will have a separate booth in the exhibition hall of the museum accessible for everyone.

Citizen Science Fair 2025: A Celebration of Citizen Science

Join us on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 from 10:30-17:00 in the Garden of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences for the Citizen Science Fair 2025, an event highlighting the growing influence and innovation of citizen science across Europe. Organised by European Citizen Science (ECS), Scivil, the Institute of Natural Sciences, and the European Commission, this event aims to foster cross-sector collaboration and policy dialogue.

ACCTING final conference. Empowering change: Building a fair and inclusive Green Deal

The European Green Deal aspires to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with a commitment to ‘leave no one behind.’ However, current environmental policies often overlook the diverse social impacts on marginalised groups. Low-income populations, racial minorities, women, or rural communities frequently bear the brunt of environmental challenges, while also facing significant barriers to accessing green solutions. These groups are often excluded from decision-making processes despite possessing the necessary local knowledge and demonstrating resilience and innovation in the face of environmental challenges. ACCTING has critically examined the social and economic impacts of the European Green Deal on marginalised groups. By employing a gender+ intersectional approach, the project has demonstrated how Green Deal policies affect individual and collective behaviours, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities. Based on these extensive research insights, ACCTING has developed innovative, evidence-based solutions, including pilot actions and thematic recommendations that empower vulnerable communities and guide inclusive policymaking. The ACCTING Final Conference, “Empowering Change: Building a Fair and Inclusive Green Deal,” invites a diverse audience of civil society representatives, NGOs, policymakers, researchers, and Green Deal stakeholders to engage with actionable strategies for achieving a socially just and inclusive Green Deal.

Webinar: Citizen Science in Malta for Marine Restoration

You're invited to come join & celebrate virtually ‘World Citizen Science Month’ in April with us by participating in a special online webinar. We will discuss the contribution of Citizen Science in Malta towards the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems. Gain insights from leading citizen science campaigns in Malta, featuring SharkLab, EcoMarine Malta, Discover the Blu, Ċirkewwa Marine Park, and the Oceanography Malta Research Group (OMRG). The session will conclude with an engaging roundtable discussion. Join with the Webinar ZOOM online : ZOOM ID: 971 0079 2135 Passcode: MarineCS Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the incredible marine work occurring here in the Mediterranean Sea. This event is proudly supported by the MEDiverSEAty Consortium from European Union’s Horizon 2020/ MSCA funding.

From Citizens to Science: Tools Driving Climate Action

On April 28, 2025, during the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna, the H2020 I-CHANGE project will hold its final scientific event titled “From Citizens to Science: Tools Driving Climate Action” Over the past four year, I-CHANGE has worked to place citizens at the core of climate action, demonstrating that informed, empowered communities are essential for achieving behavioural change. By combining active citizen participation, innovative technologies, and scientific collaboration, the project has fostered behavioural transformations towards more sustainable living. This closing event will present the outcomes of I-CHANGE, showcasing results from its eight Living Labs across Europe and beyond. These Living Labs served as active hubs for environmental monitoring, and community engagement, emphasizing how citizens can observe and reduce their own environmental impacts. The event will feature the presentation of the project’s final results, including scientific findings, technological and engaging activities that have been implemented to raise climate change awareness and foster participatory science. It will also include talks from sister projects involved in citizen science initiatives related to climate change, and offer reflections on how citizen-generated data can complement scientific observations and help shape a more sustainable future. In addition, on May 1, 2025, key I-CHANGE results will be featured during the EGU session titled “Engaging Citizens in Understanding Urban Climate and Climate Change Risks through Participatory Science.” This session invites contributions that explore citizen participation, crowdsourced data collection, and effective practices for integrating the public into climate adaptation efforts across Europe. For more information, please visit here

Responsible, Trustworthy, and ethical AI in citizen science

The use of AI techniques (such as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision) is increasing rapidly across the participatory sciences. Such techniques are used throughout the research process, such as cleaning data before presenting it to volunteers, using volunteers to contribute to the training of machine learning models, in the field data collection aided by computer vision, and creating collaborations between humans and AI to make tasks more engaging and of higher quality. Whilst this can improve the scientific process, it is important to understand the limitations of the use of these techniques, as well as consider the impact on how volunteers understand their role in participatory science. How practitioners communicate the use of AI to volunteers and continue to emphasize the importance of their contributions is also extremely important. To be beneficial to all in the participatory science community, the use of AI must be responsible, ethical, and trustworthy. However, it is not always clear what this means and how it can be applied. This study asks: -What are the opportunities and drawbacks of using AI techniques in citizen science? -What does it mean to be responsible, ethical, and trustworthy in the use of AI? -How should the use of AI in citizen science be advanced? If you are (or have been) involved in planning, carrying out, or taking part in citizen science projects, you are invited to take part in an online survey about your perceptions of the use of AI in citizen science. The survey should take around 20 minutes and you will be asked about -Your experience with citizen science projects -Your experience of AI -Opinions on how/why AI should/should not be used in citizen science -The effects of AI use on volunteers -What the terms ‘responsible’, ‘trustworthy’, and ‘ethical’ mean in the context of using AI in citizen science -How citizen science and human-AI collaboration should develop in the future The results will be presented at the Conference for Advancing Participatory Science in Portland, Oregon, at the end of May 2025.

ECS Collaboration Session - Help build the European Research Infrastructure for Excellence in Citizen Science

Do you want to help build the European Research Infrastructure for Excellence in Citizen Science? The first step is happening in the upcoming ECS Collaboration Session! The RIECS-Concept project will conceptualise the European Research Infrastructure for Excellence in Citizen Science. This RI will integrate citizens’ resources, such as mobile phones and computers, with existing scientific platforms and data collections; and it will offer transversal services, improving accessibility across research communities. The RIECS-Concept project will produce two key outcomes: a conceptual design including a feasibility study, and a five-year implementation plan for the new research infrastructure. These outcomes will provide detailed insights into the diversity and maturity of the concept considering technical, operational, societal, and environmental challenges associated with establishing the permanent and shared infrastructure. This is the very first activity of many to gather inputs and community-based evidence, in collaboration with the ECS project. You will have a chance to not only learn about this important project but also to bring your own input, needs and solutions, independently of your background or scientific domains. Who can join? This Collaboration Session is aimed at the entire Citizen Science community: practitioners, students, researchers, educators, representatives of CS projects and networks, etc.

Les Prix de la participation 2025

10 ans de récompenses pour les initiatives de la participation citoyenne ! Avec l’ouverture des candidatures le 1er avril, Décider ensemble célébre le lancement de la 10e édition de sa récompense annuelle. ‍ Candidatez du 1er avril au 30 juin 2025 ! Faites reconnaître votre engagement pour une démocratie plus participative !

ECS Collaboration Session - Advocacy in CS

Are you involved in citizen science projects or networks? The ECS Collaboration Sessions give you a platform to learn about different citizen science projects, exchange insights about key topics and competencies in CS, and share updates on your own work with a wide range of CS professionals. The ECS project is organising Collaboration Sessions once every two months. In these online Sessions, CS practitioners have the floor to host presentations, activities, and learning moments for the benefit of the European citizen science community. Do you want to learn about ongoing projects and specific competencies that can boost your own work? You are welcome join and participate in these sessions. Or do you want to host your own session, in which you share insights from your own work with the European CS community? Then, feel free to reach out to alex@stickydot.eu to arrange your session. Upcoming Session: February 4th - Amplify your Impact: Advocacy for Citizen Science Are you passionate about citizen science but unsure how to fully showcase its value to policymakers, funders, or even colleagues in your own organisation? Advocacy is a powerful tool for increasing awareness, recognition, funding, and policy change — but it can be tricky to get right! Join the upcoming ECS collaboration session focused on advocacy training for CS practitioners to learn and practice effective strategies to better communicate the value of your work and secure the support you need for your projects. This session is ideal for citizen science practitioners, project leaders, researchers, educators, and anyone passionate about advancing the field of citizen science. About the speaker: Ilona Kish With a wealth of experience in policy development and advocacy, Ilona has been a driving force behind numerous campaigns that have successfully highlighted the value of libraries to policymakers, funders, and communities across Europe and beyond. As Director of Public Libraries 2030, Ilona has been working to expand and reinforce the role of public libraries as beacons of citizen participation in science – and she sees the crucial role that advocacy skills play both in mainstreaming CS in Europe and in securing support for organisations working in the field. Session details: February 4th, 11:00 - 12:30 CET Online Format: Presentation from advocacy expert Ilona Kish + interactive group activities Interested in joining? Enter your email address below to receive the invite.

ECS Policy Event “Citizen Science beyond 2030: Societal Engagement for a Sustainable Future”

Join the ECS project at the online policy event "Citizen Science beyond 2030: Societal Engagement for a Sustainable Future” taking place on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, 10:00-12:00 CET. By contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - be it through providing monitoring data, raising awareness or promoting behavioural change - the citizen science community has demonstrated that it can play an important role in supporting sustainability transitions. During this online event, a panel of experts and decision-makers from science and policy will take stock of the progress made so far, identify challenges and barriers, and discuss how citizen science can best advance sustainable development in Europe both within and beyond the SDG framework.