- Convenors:
-
Linnea Harboe
(University of Southern Denmark)
Fleur Froeling (HU University of Applied Sciences)
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- Format:
- Workshop
Short Abstract
Citizen science in healthcare can drive societal impact and policy action, but it also raises complex ethical and practical dilemmas. In this interactive Dilemma & World Café session, participants will explore real cases, reflect on challenges from their own projects, and co-create strategies for responsible, inclusive, and impactful citizen science that bridges research and health practice.
Description
Citizen science in healthcare creates new opportunities to connect research and society, empower participants, and inform public policy. Yet, working with citizens, especially in vulnerable situations, often brings dilemmas related to ethics, power, and practical implementation. How can researchers and communities navigate these challenges and turn insights into action?
This interactive session merges World Café and Dilemma Café formats to explore real-world citizen science cases from various projects linked to Bridge2Health and the strategical work with inequality in health in a Danish university setting. Participants will work in small groups facilitated by workshop leaders to discuss concrete dilemmas derived from actual health-related citizen science projects. These dilemmas illustrate key moments of choice. For example, how to act when faced with sensitive disclosures, conflicting values, or unexpected findings.
Building on shared experiences, participants will identify dilemmas from their own projects, exchange approaches, and co-develop strategies for inclusive project design and responsible decision-making. Throughout the session, short inputs and a PowerPoint presentation will frame the discussions, leading to a collective summary of lessons learned and take-home messages.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have:
• Reflected on ethical and practical dilemmas in health-related citizen science,
• Shared solutions for onboarding researchers and citizens in inclusive ways,
• Identified institutional needs for bridging science, policy, and health practice,
• Co-created strategies for turning citizen science insights into societal and policy impact.
This workshop is aimed at researchers and practitioners engaged in citizen science within healthcare, particularly those working in complex, vulnerable, or unequal settings. The insights developed will contribute to strengthening citizen science as a driver for responsible and impactful health innovation.
Accepted contribution
Short Abstract
Citizen science in health empowers participants and enhances societal impact but raises various dilemmas. In an interactive dilemma café, we discuss real cases, explore roles and ethical perspectives, and co-create insights for ethical and inclusive research that strengthens societal impact.
Abstract
Citizen science creates opportunities for meaningful collaboration between researchers and citizens. These collaborations can empower participants, strengthen the relevance of research, and enhance the societal impact of science. At the same time, involving citizens in health research introduces unique challenges. Questions arise about the role and responsibilities of the researcher and the other participants, how to deal with unequal power relations, how to navigate sensitive situations where values and expectations may conflict, and how to turn project results into actionable policies.
In this interactive session, we aim to raise awareness of (ethical) dilemmas and contribute to a culture of openness and reflection. We will explore ethical challenges by playing the dilemma café. This café is based on real-life scenarios we encountered in our own citizen science projects. Each dilemma illustrates a situation in which researchers are confronted with difficult choices such as deciding how to act when participants disclose sensitive personal information.
By reflecting upon these scenarios, participants are encouraged to reflect on their own perspectives and experiences, exchange strategies with others, and consider how structured dialogue can help research teams to anticipate and address ethical challenges. To conclude the session, we will provide a short summary of the key points raised during the discussion and highlight shared insights. Together with the participants, we will formulate practical take-home messages to inspire future citizen science projects in the health domain.