Record Eclipse Shadow Bands at the August 12, 2026 Eclipse

During the few moments before and after totality, rippling patterns called shadow bands race across the ground. This citizen science project invites eclipse observers across Iceland and Spain to record shadow bands and help answer questions that remain largely unexplored Why Participate? • Witness one of nature’s rarest optical phenomena. • Contribute to genuine scientific research. • Help answer questions about how location and altitude influence shadow bands. • Be part of an international citizen science effort. • Receive detailed observing instructions before the eclipse. We're Looking for Volunteers • Locations near the eclipse centerline in Iceland or Spain. • Locations near the edge of totality in Iceland or Spain. • High-altitude observation sites in Iceland or Spain. • If you're already planning to travel to Iceland or Spain for the eclipse, your observations could be especially valuable. See the following for more details: https://joeengineerpilot.github.io/EclipseShadowBandTool/2026_Citizen_Science_Event.pdf https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.09621

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.

Wetland Watchers workshop - Empowering Citizen Science for Climate Action

The Wetland Watchers workshop is an opportunity to bring together various researchers and stakeholders with a shared interest in wetlands. Invited speakers: Barbara Sowinska-Swierkosz (PL), Milena Holmgren & Juul Limpens (NL), Rosa Arias (ES), Gitte Kragh (DK) Objectives: * Explore the integration of citizen science into wetland and climate research * Share recent findings and technological advancements * Promote collaboration, innovation and public engagement in climate change mitigation efforts. Program 08:30 - 09:00 | Registration and Welcome Coffee Participants arrival and registration Informal networking over coffee 09:00 - 09:15 | Opening Remarks Welcome by the Workshop Organizer – Lorenzo Pugliese and Shubiao Wu Introduction to the Workshop Objectives 09:15 - 10:30 | Citizen Science Research & Methodology (Gitte Kragh) Introduction to citizen science research design and methodologies/interactive session 10:30 - 10:45 | Coffee Break 10:45 - 11:15 | Communication & public engagement (Rosa Arias/online) Effective communication and engagement 11:15 - 12:00 | Education and Awareness (Gitte Kragh) Raising awareness among researchers, volunteers and stakeholders/interactive session 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break 13:00 - 13:30 | Citizen Science in restored wetlands (Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz) Citizen science task and toolkit in relation to wetland 13:30 - 14:00 | Citizen Science in the WaterLAND project (Milena Holmgren & Juul Limpens) The WaterLand co-creation method Action sites 14:00 - 14:15 | Coffee Break 14:15 - 15:15 | Citizen science in wetland restoration: overcoming barriers and enhancing methodologies (World café led by Gitte Kragh) Identifying and overcoming barriers Enhancing data collection methodologies Collaborative frameworks: building partnerships between researchers, local communities, and policymakers 15:15 - 15:30 | Closing Remarks and Future Directions (Shubiao Wu/Lorenzo Pugliese) Organiser: Wet Horizons / Aarhus University

Nature Observation Marathon

Nature observation marathon invites naturalists to explore the biodiversity in their favorite area. The maraton is following format of BioBlitz, an international species recording scheme. In BioBlitz volunteers and researchers will identify as many species of animals, plants and fungi as possible in a given place in a given period of time. BioBlitz usually lasts 24 hours to observe the forms of biodiversity throughout the day. In previous years the marathon was a national event in Estonia, but in 2024 we will also invite other naturalist around Baltic Sea and in Nordic countries to join in. The main event takes place during 24 hours in 8.-9 June, but the observation areas should be registered by May 5th.

Launch of the CitiMeasure Behaviour & Policy and Digital Inclusion e-guidelines

The CitiMeasure team invites you to join the online webinar where the CitiMeasure Behaviour & Policy and Digital Inclusion guidelines will be launched! These guidelines include recommendations for cities and the citizen community. They result from almost two years of co-creation with more than 40 volunteers from different European organisations and cities. Μore information and the link for registration is here: https://teams.microsoft.com/registration/Cokv0QqVgEaMp1o28Iic0w,E8q7IUWJ2UyrJtA3WOrCQg,n3HBKWnCMkOaOOMTvBoenw,6pk4AjYipU6J99quHjk1Pw,rYpPVDddpU6szMeNyQbORA,rz7Fw5ZyJEytfSdAA-ntjw?mode=read&tenantId=d12f890a-950a-4680-8ca7-5a36f0889cd3&skipauthstrap=1

BIO-DATAthon: A unique validation event of biodiversity data!

The activity aims to validate species names of the biodiversity observations coming from several citizen science platforms, such as Natusfera, Pl@ntNet or Artportalen; you can validate terrestrial or marine images, depending on your expertise! The event is organised by the Cos4Cloud project. Natusfera and Artportalen are citizen science platforms where volunteers update and identify all kinds of biodiversity images, while Pl@ntNet gathers plants’ observations worldwide. These images are now available in Cos4Bio, a new online platform that integrates observations on biodiversity from various citizen science platforms. When? This online event will take place from the 7th of December until the 15th of January; you can do it from home when it fits you better; no pressure! Who is this event for? It is aimed at experts (by learning or by experience) who can identify species names (any taxon!). Read more on Cos4Bio and the event at the event page.

Describing your citizen science project – How to present your project and recruit volunteers

In this installment of our webinar series, CS Track researchers will share tips and tricks for writing informative and engaging project descriptions and analyse concrete examples (both positive and negative) together with the participants. Moreover, participants will have the chance to draft their own descriptions and receive feedback from the presenters. Following a round of introductions and presentation of our research, the participants will analyse examples (good and bad), discuss good practices for writing project descriptions, and then draft their own project descriptions (for real or fantasy projects). Who is it aimed at? Project initiators and coordinators, CS platform managers What will you learn? Some input on how to efficiently and attractively promote their projects; insight into participants’ expectations Workshop leaders Workshop leaders: Marius Oesterheld, Wissenschaft im Dialog, and Dr. Yaela Golumbic, The MOFET Institute.

Engaging the society beyond data collection

The challenges of ocean monitoring require data from everywhere at all times, we need to involve society in all steps of the process to achieve the information necessary to implement evidence-based policies in coastal and ocean management. This workshop is a Satellite Activity of the Event “A Predicted Ocean”, an Ocean Decade Laboratory organized in the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ocean for Sustainable Development. The workshop will analyse different challenges in volunteer participation in ocean monitoring projects: from potential barriers for volunteer participation up to how to improve the management of the cost and oceans developing evidence-based policies using in some cases the information generated in these participative processes. REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.es/e/entradas-workshop-engaging-the-society-beyond-data-collection-in-citizen-science-168961358973 The workshop “Engaging the society beyond data collection” will be divided into two parts: - First part: an overview of lessons learned in previous and ongoing projects. - Second part: moderated discussion (both in English and Spanish) with all the involved actors, including academia, industry, policymakers and civil society WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? This workshop is aimed at all the communities interested in participatory coastal monitoring: Academia, Industry (particularly SMEs), Policy Makers, and Civil Society (NGOs, local groups, environmental associations, Schools, …). PRELIMINARY AGENDA: 1- Welcome and introduction: Jaume Piera (ICM-CSIC) 2- An overview of previous and ongoing experiences: -Ocean Cities. Josep Lluís Pelegrí (ICM-CSIC) -Australian Coasts. Libby Hepburn (CSA) -Wadden Sea. Soledad Luna (W-S World Heritage) -Our Coast. Luigi Ceccaroni (EarthWatch-UK) -Reef Monitoring. Phanor Montoya (Corales de Paz) -Urban Beaches. Andrea Comaposada (Anel·lides) 3- Interactive session: going beyond data collection: -Breakout Room 1. English session -Breakout Room 2. Spanish session